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UFC 225 preview: The hardcore CM Punk show

Rey Del Rio / Getty Images Sport / Getty

You're probably pretty excited about UFC 225's stacked line up on Saturday, because who wouldn't be with two title fights scheduled (well, two planned for now at least).

A former Strikeforce heavyweight champ is featured on the prelims. The top flyweight contender is in the third fight of the night. And a legitimate women's featherweight contender is finally on the scene.

This event looks to be the best one yet in 2018 on paper. It'll be highlighted by some of the top MMA talents fighting in important matches throughout the UFC's weight classes.

However, while it may be an ideal event for the hardcore crowd, casual fans are coming for one name - Phil Brooks.

You may know him better by his WWE name, CM Punk, which he'll go by in his return to the Octagon after a brutal debut in September 2016. Punk will look to keep his MMA career alive in his hometown of Chicago, where Dana White expects him to draw more eyeballs than heavyweight great Alistair Overeem.

Sales shouldn't be an issue after Punk's debut card earned the UFC's best pay-per-view numbers of 2016, according to Forbes, which is especially impressive for an event that didn't include megastars Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, or Brock Lesnar.

But the in-cage pressure is on Punk against fellow 0-1 fighter Mike Jackson, as White has stated another loss will spell the end of his MMA career. Punk has come under fire because some fans think he's a glorified amateur who doesn't deserve to be fighting on the main card of a pay-per-view event. On the same night, two ranked opponents will square off four fights earlier.

While the hometown angle is cute, Punk likely would have fit better on next month's card that's designed for a mainstream audience. UFC 226 will be headlined by a champion vs. champion fight, a featherweight title bout between two potential future faces of the UFC, and a heavyweight classic featuring beloved knockout artists.

Punk will have support from pro-wrestling fans in the audience, and those who sympathize with his never-give-up attitude in the face of a nasty lawsuit. But the anti-WWE crowd won't be so forgiving if he doesn't produce a memorable performance.

He may have his doubters and critics, but Punk is still going to be one of the night's biggest stars in Chicago.

Just wasn't meant to be

Robert Whittaker was supposed put his undisputed middleweight belt on the line for the first time against Yoel Romero in a rematch of last July's interim title fight. It likely would have been the top fight of Saturday night.

But after an odd set of circumstances put this bout in motion, Romero became the first UFC fighter to miss weight ahead of multiple championship bouts, throwing a wrench into the main event. After hours of not getting a confirmation if the fight would happen or not, White waited until after the ceremonial weigh-ins to confirm "the fight's on, that's all that matters," leaving us to assume the title will not be on the line.

The first meeting between the two was a fight of the year candidate in 2017 that saw Whittaker overcome an injured knee suffered in the early rounds. He earned a unanimous decision over Romero, who struggled with cardio in the last ten minutes. Whittaker's belt was upgraded from interim to undisputed last December after Georges St-Pierre vacated the title.

The UFC's first Australian champion was scheduled to defend his strap in February against Luke Rockhold before a slew of injuries removed him from action. Then Romero was inserted in what was supposed to be an interim title bout. Unfortunately, the short camp and travel to Australia gave the 41-year-old Cuban difficulties with his weight cut, and he didn't make the 185-lb limit.

Regardless, a brutal knockout by Romero on Rockhold provided further proof he's the most worthy contender for Whittaker's first title defense in the Octagon.

With interim belts, title vacancies, injuries, and missed weight cuts bringing these two middleweight behemoths back together in an 11-month span, we shouldn't be all that surprised this one almost fell through.

Can Rafael dos Anjos shut up Covington?

Someone needs to get this guy to shut his yap.

Covington's official UFC nickname is "Chaos," but the online community has appropriately dubbed him "Captain Cringe" over the last seven months or so. He's gone on a tirade of offensive, over-the-line insults that generated more winces than laughs.

He called Brazil a country full of "dirty animals" and posted spoilers to some of the most anticipated movies of the year. Covington also aligns himself with Donald Trump's lowest moments, and he does his best McGregor impression in press conferences, just without the charm or whit.

Related - Masvidal: Covington's a--hole persona all real

But all these antics could work exactly how the self-proclaimed "villain" of the UFC intends, as fans are roaring to see if Rafael dos Anjos can teach him a lesson. The Brazilian looks to become the second man to claim UFC belts at lightweight and welterweight.

If dos Anjos can get the win, his place in history may be overshadowed by the joy he gives fans who have been waiting to see Covington eat his words.

Related - UFC 225 predictions: Who's leaving Chicago with a shiny gold strap?

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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