Poll: Does Alistair Overeem Deserve A Title Shot If He Beats Arlovski?
The UFC will make its awaited Netherlands debut with UFC Fight Night 87 this weekend (Sun., May 8, 2016) from the Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, and obviously no other man could headline the card than Dutch kickboxing phenom Alistair Overeem, who faces Andrei Arlovski in the card’s headliner.
After a rocky start to his UFC career, the former Strikeforce, DREAM, and K-1 World Grand Prix champion has finally found his groove by winning three straight bouts in the Octagon including a knockout of former champion Junior dos Santos in his most recent bout. The streak has him on the verge of title contention in the tumultuous and volatile UFC heavyweight arena, and a win over a former champion like Arlovski could certainly get him a fight with the winner of May 14’s Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic title bout at UFC 198.
But former champion Cain Velasquez is always close to a title shot — deservedly or not — and he’ll take on No. 7 Travis Browne at July 9’s blockbuster UFC 200 from Las Vegas. A win there could also see Velasquez thrust back into the title picture if healthy.
“The Reem” has looked rejuvenated training at Albuquerque’s Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA (oddly enough where his opponent trains as well), and a four-fight win streak over top competition is never easy to obtain in the UFC heavyweight division. With that said, do you believe Overeem should earn his long-awaited title shot if he defeats Arlovski?
