Alistair Overeem ‘Hurting Sparring Partners’ For UFC On FOX 13
UFC On FOX 13 on Saturday (Dec. 13th, 2014) is a very significant event for Alistair Overeem. The former K-1 and Strikeforce heavyweight champion is in a do-or-die fight with countryman Stefan Struve, after suffering yet another TKO loss for the UFC. Having been in this position before, Overeem knows too well what is required of him against “The Skyscraper”.
Somewhat surprisingly, “The Reem” doesn’t feel his back is up against the wall in Phoenix, Arizona. He tells Sherdog that he plans on going out and performing against Struve:
“I don’t have the back-to-the-wall feeling. As an athlete you can lose; you shouldn’t only lose, but I’m not only gonna lose,” he said. “Why I can I say that is because I know what I’m doing with my sparring partners: I’m seriously pressuring all of them, hurting all of them. I know that the body is there, the mindset is there — I’m putting the effort in. I don’t really feel like my back is to the wall. But what I do really feel is that you do have to perform. You do have to get out there and do it.”
Hurting sparring partners, why does that sound familiar? That’s right, “The Demolition Man” has stood accused on numerous occasions of bully tactics in the gym, and caused the high profile injury to Jon Jones that forced his title fight with Alexander Gustafsson to get moved to 2015. Overeem continued:
“I know he’s training on it. I know that he tries to, but the Dutch kickboxing in my opinion, respectfully, is outdated. It’s not used for MMA,” Overeem said. “I know because I am the K-1 2010 Grand Prix champion. MMA is just different. “I’m not a person to look back. Looking back doesn’t really help. I just focus on the future and what I need to do,”
“I can tell you I’m very happy with the place I’m at right now. It took a lot of effort and work to get here, now it’s just cruising. I still have a couple more good years at the top in me.”
So which version of Alistair Overeem will show up to fight Stefan Struve on Saturday? One thing is for sure, if it’s the cocky out of shape version, then we might just see “The Skyscraper” make a successful return from illness with a big knockout. Otherwise, “The Reem” might well be looking to stamp his authority at UFC on FOX 13, and his giant Dutch foe might simply be in the way….
