Alistair Overeem Update: No Strikeforce Until After April, 1 More K-1 Fight

by Dave Walsh on Dec 18, 2009 10:43 AM EST in K-1 Comment 9 comments

After speaking with sources inside of Golden Glory, there is an update on the story of Andrei Arlovski's camp claiming the fight they were offered was against Alistair Overeem. With all of the rumors about Overeem that float around, the Golden Glory camp assures Head Kick Legend that the fight between Alistair Overeem and Kazuyuki Fujita was being negotiated weeks before the K-1 World Grand Prix on December 5th. Bas Boon himself chose Kazuyuki Fujita as the opponent for Overeem, citing Alistair's rather intense schedule recently, including the World Grand Prix where he fought Ewerton Teixeira, knocking him out in just over a minute, then having an intense showdown with Badr Hari, where Hari ultimately scored the TKO victory. With fighting 5 fights within two months, Boon thought an opponent like Fujita would be a better fit for the run-down Overeem.

Since Fujita was the hand-selected opponent, the idea is that K-1 could have contacted other possible opponents in case Fujita did not accept the fight, but Golden Glory and Alistair Overeem did not have any negotiations with Andrei Arlovski for a fight.

As for the future for the Demolition Man, Boon states that there is one more fight on his contract with K-1, which will take place in March or April. Alistair will take off the few months after the Dynamite!! show (which is well deserved) before his K-1 bout in the Spring. What this means to fans in the US? Fedor Emelianenko has a bout scheduled in April for Strikeforce, and the heavy rumor has been Alistair Overeem will be the man involved; Alistair Overeem will not compete in Strikeforce until later 2010. So the hopes of Alistair Overeem facing Fedor Emelianenko on CBS are once again put on hold. We have been assured that Alistair has not chosen any of his opponents, Golden Glory management has been "carefully choosing" his opponents, Alistair will fight anybody, anywhere, anytime.

Bas Boon has assured Head Kick Legend that Alistair Overeem will fight in Strikeforce in the United States in 2010. Quote; "Prepare America, Alistair is coming, 2010 will be the year of the Dutch cyclone, demolition time in the US!"

SBN coverage of Dynamite!! 2009

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I hope Coker comes to his senses and strips him of the title.

"My diet is like Atkins, but with the carbs." - BJ Penn

by Beer Monster on Dec 18, 2009 10:54 AM EST reply actions

Honestly, I agree

If he won’t fight on the next CBS card, and will fight ‘later in 2010’ it is time to crown a new champion, or at least an Interim Champ?

Head Kick Legend
Twitter @HeadKickLegend

by Dave Walsh on Dec 18, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly. You have the # 1 HW in the world, who can’t even win a belt in your promotion because the current champ won’t fight for your company? I think Coker’s brilliant and an awesome promoter, but this is a no-brainer to me. Strikeforce has taken a ton of leaps in the right direction towards credibility lately, and this would be the lext logical leap.

"My diet is like Atkins, but with the carbs." - BJ Penn

by Beer Monster on Dec 18, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions

Part of it is Strikeforce's fault

they didn’t have him under contract until Sept/October of this year. He wins the title and they don’t sign him for another fight? (I understand there was no challenger at the time) But how is that Alistair’s fault? He has a year after they signed him to a contract to defend his title before its stripped. He’s got PLENTY of time to meet that obligation.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 20, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

Strikeforce wants to save Fedor vs Overeem for their first potential end of the year PPV anyways, so if he fought for Strikeforce, he may fight someone else first.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 18, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

Fedor vs. Werdum is on slate for CBS

They should absolutely have Overeem fight before the PPV, other wise who outside of Japanese MMA/K1 fans will know him?

Head Kick Legend
Twitter @HeadKickLegend

by Dave Walsh on Dec 18, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

K-1 doesn’t need MMA fighters like him , it’s better he comeback to himself fighting style.

by k1wgp on Dec 18, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions

I’ve given them the benefit of the doubt thus far. But if this is true, it’s ridiculous. There usually is that Yokohama event in March, hopefully with a focus on the -100 guys. But wouldn’t it be better to focus on MMA and safe that fight for next year’s Final 16?

by Daeron on Dec 18, 2009 1:05 PM EST reply actions

He has to fight within 1 year of being under contract

by rule or be stripped of his title. He wasn’t under contract because SF had nobody for him to fight against so he was a champion by default. Now there are competitors and they resigned him. He will uphold that obligation. Its as much SF’s fault as it is Alistair’s. Everybody here knows K-1 pays better than SF, thats part of the perks of fighting for SF. You’re allowed to take bigger payday’s elsewhere so long as you don’t violate contractual obligations.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 20, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions