One of the strangest UFC pay-per-views in recent memory ended with one of the year's wildest affairs, as Stipe Miocic overcame early trouble to defend his UFC heavyweight title with a first-round knockout over Alistair Overeem.

The performance capped off a bizarre night in Cleveland that also saw the UFC and mixed martial arts debut of former WWE superstar CM Punk, and as always, the pros were there to react every step of the way.

HELL YEAAAA STIPEEEE!!!! What a finish brotha!! Congrats to people out in Cleveland #UFC203 — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 11, 2016

Crazy round Crazy fight! Wow Congrats @stipemiocicufc #ufc203 — Richy Walsh MMA (@RichyMMA) September 11, 2016

HW division looks like it got drugged before these fights tonight... JMHO Just crazy weird — Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) September 11, 2016

Any punch that either 1 of these guys throw stuns one another #UFC203 — Dennis Bermudez (@MenaceBermudez) September 11, 2016

REEM shouldn't have went for that Guillotine :( and I think he knew it immediately — James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) September 11, 2016

Stipe is gonna be tough to take that belt from... #UFC203 — James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) September 11, 2016

Fuck. I want to stop seeing Reem getting knocked dead. #UFC203 — The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) September 11, 2016

Both guys got dropped and rocked. One KO'd, they will not remember the fight clearly — Brian Stann (@BrianStann) September 11, 2016

I love you @joerogan calling bullshit on that one and x2 Classic — Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) September 11, 2016

Joe Rogan just buried Overeem damn What an odd night — Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) September 11, 2016

"Nah, hold on. I want you to defend ur point. Lets take a look at the tape again. Show where he tapped Sway? How he tap Sway?? How?"#UFC203 — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 11, 2016

Aight Joe, we get it... He didn't tap. Lol. He already got his dreams crushed. Let the man have an out. #UFC203 — James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) September 11, 2016

Thanks to everyone for support tonight at #UFC203. As @Alistairovereem said, back to the drawing board! We'll be back.

- Posted by #TeamAO — Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) September 11, 2016

FABRICIO WERDUM DEF. TRAVIS BROWNE (AND EDMOND)

After what I just watched there is no doubt who should and will fight for heavyweight title… https://t.co/93Ed6e621h — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 11, 2016

The ref should've never stopped the fight to check on brownes finger. If you stop that should be tko by injury. It just is what it is — Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) September 11, 2016

What a bad fight with a worse ending @Werdum how unprofessional — Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) September 11, 2016

Werdum with the front kick to Edmond #UFC203 — James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) September 11, 2016

Did he just teep him? I'm dying lol #ufc203 — Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) September 11, 2016

I remember sparring w/ Travis Browne, his footwork was confusing and his kicks massive. Now both are gone — Brian Stann (@BrianStann) September 11, 2016

I miss the Browne who KO'd Reem with a kick. #ufc203 — The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) September 11, 2016

What a crazy, weird heavyweight fight. This sport is wacky and beautiful. — Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) September 11, 2016

If you are going to protest a fight and the coaches you should do it Mongolian style and just start taking your clothes off. #UFC205 — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 11, 2016

@FunkMaster_UFC Edmond was talking shit as usual. Guy needs a beatdown one of these days — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) September 11, 2016

Having @CoachEdmund as your head coach = automatic L #runforthehills — Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) September 11, 2016

MICKEY GALL DEF. CM PUNK

! Respect Punks courage to put himself out there but there's a reason for armatures , Pros , ect . . gotta go thru the process like every1 — Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 11, 2016

@CMPunk lotta heart tonight. @mickeygall is the real deal. In a few years his name will still be making waves in @ufc kids gonna be around — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 11, 2016

Funny thing is Punk just earned more respect in his defeat than Micky did in victory. #takethathoweveryouwant #UFC203 — Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) September 11, 2016

In the #UFC it does matter how many times you get knocked down. You get knocked down 3X or more, you're gone — Dennis Bermudez (@MenaceBermudez) September 11, 2016

EVEN if it's your dream to fight in the #UFC , you HAVE to pay your dues and earn your shot. No shortcuts... #UFC203 — David Loiseau (@DavidLoiseau) September 11, 2016

Class act @CMPunk proud to call u a teammate and friend #UFC203 — Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) September 11, 2016

I see a lot of memes coming up ....#UFC203 — JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) September 11, 2016

Not bad for a first fight and good speech @CMPunk and fuck the haters — Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) September 11, 2016

No matter what anyone says @CMPunk got in there and went for it. He took some shots and fought a choke to the best of his ability. Respect. — Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) September 11, 2016

I'll tell you this I respect @CMPunk more than anyone. Dude has the biggest balls ever. Much love brotha a true beast! — Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) September 11, 2016

Can't wait to see what the pay outs are for #UFC203 ....#CMpunk better not have made more money than I do #FishOutOfWater — Dennis Bermudez (@MenaceBermudez) September 11, 2016

All micky had to dye was drop the mic after that call out #UFC203 — Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) September 11, 2016

I feel like Mickey Gall could have got his point across with much less profanity. Just saying. — James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) September 11, 2016

The problem is @mickeygall is 3-0 & in the @ufc. Now you have to fight real professionals. All the respect to @CMPunk taking the challenge — Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) September 11, 2016

But what do you do with Gall now. He's gonna get ate up by the wolves — Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) September 11, 2016

They should keep Punk as the doormat for entry level guys to walk through. — Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) September 11, 2016

I wanna see Bieber fight next #UFC203 — Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) September 11, 2016

So u wana be a fighter !!! One and done I'd say..... — Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) September 11, 2016

CM Punk got a lot of heart for stepping in there #UFC203 — Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) September 11, 2016

And just like that he finds out there's levels to this shit. — James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) September 11, 2016

@CMPunk did better in his 1st fight than I did in my 2nd, haha! Props man, takes a lot of guts to step out your comfort zone #UFC203 — Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 11, 2016

I did not wish that on CM Punk I only stated that's what I thought would happen.Seems like a nice guy.Inside the octagon is not a nice place — Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) September 11, 2016

I am think I'm not to old to try a legacy at @WWE — Roan Jucao (@jucao) September 11, 2016

JIMMIE RIVERA VS. URIJAH FABER

You think this ref is gonna take a point? #UFC203 pic.twitter.com/FjhcADNCLT — Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) September 11, 2016

FAber about to get his fight non-title fight loss. We all have to grow up... #UFC203 — The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) September 11, 2016

Bummed for @UrijahFaber . Great guy and always brings a ton of heart to the ring. Hats off to Rivera! #UFC203 — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) September 11, 2016

Lol "Kid". Good win over a big name but definitely nothing to rattle the top 10. Bantamweight division is lit right now#UFC203 — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 11, 2016

For those that w/comprehension problems. I said good win, over a top guy. But the performance was meh. Rivera is solid, & Faber has slowed — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 11, 2016

JESSICA ANDRADE DEF. JOANNE CALDERWOOD

Andrade is jacked lil fire hydrant, I swear. #UFC203 — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 11, 2016

Set her up and let her climb into the guillotine. Nice. #ufc203 — The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) September 11, 2016

Big Win! Hahaha #UFC203 — Richy Walsh MMA (@RichyMMA) September 11, 2016

In this sport there's always going to be speed bumps. We're fighting the best fighters in the world. I 100% believe @DRkneevil will be back — Joe Duffy (@Duffy_MMA) September 11, 2016