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Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:15 am EST

Suddenly huge heavyweight Overeem should try the U.S.

By Steve Cofield

The UFC is always looking to add to its heavyweight ranks. Is it ready to roll the dice on former light heavyweight Alistair Overeem. Normally a light heavy moving up is dangerous proposition since he's probably walking around at 220 lbs. Not Overeem, he has made the miraculous jump from a lean 6-foot-4, 205 lbs. to 253 lbs. at his last fight K-1 Dynamite 2008. Wow! Overeem (pictured on the left) is the rare athletic, big heavy with a great set of striking skills.

He spoke with DreamFighters.com and said he is interested in fighting in the U.S. again:

DreamFighters.com: What is next for you? UFC, Lesnar, Fedor, what?

Alistair Overeem: Well I challenged (Remy) Bonjanksy on K-1 rules and yes, Fedor (Emelianenko) and (Brock) Lesnar are on my list, (Frank) Mir as well!

DreamFighters.com: Who would you like to fight next?

Alistair Overeem: I am going on a holiday as I really trained hard whole 2008, beginning of February I will start training again, my management is in negotiations now, I might visit the UFC (93) in Ireland on January 17th.

DreamFighters.com: Have you had any talks with Dana White or the UFC - Any interest fighting for the UFC or Affliction?

Alistair Overeem: My management has been in contact with Affliction as well as the UFC, I am a fighter and i concentrate on fighting, I am very happy with Golden Glory!

Overeem would be a nice get for UFC. He has the look and he is very dangerous on the feet. He's also been super effective with the guillotine choke when shorter fighters give their heads standing.

Overeem gave Chuck Liddell everything he could handle during a Pride event in 2003. He rocked Liddell with a left less 10 seconds into the fight and landed a ton knees. When have you seen Liddell ditch the stand-up game so he could wrestle? He did against Overeem. Liddell won the fight when Overeem gassed. Watch the video to see some of Overeem's game.

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Now the big question is can Overeem carry that 253 naturally? They don't test in Japan and we know California and Nevada don't mess around. Overeem did fight three times in the states in 2006 and 2007. He fought for Strikeforce in 2006 against Vitor Belfort at 210 and twice in 2007: Feb. 24 Pride 33 v. Shogun Rua at 205 and Nov. 16 Strikeforce v. Paul Buentello at 224. He passed all those tests. Should a red flag go up? Seven months later Overeem fought in June for DREAM 4 at 240, September for DREAM 6 at 241 and then came back for the K-1 Dynamite event at 253.

It would be nice to see Overeem in the states to fight legit heavyweights in MMA. He shouldn't have to reach for fights under K-1 rules.

Video tip from CagePotato

Photo via FreeFightVideos

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44 Comments

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  1. Ron M
    1. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    I think steroids are a lot bigger factor in Japan/K1/Pride because of their lax testing. It's also interesting how a lot of those fighters just aren't the same when they have fought for the UFC. Silva, Cro Cop, Rua, even Nog have looked less than impressive. Obviously Overeem is on the juice too.
  2. Karl A
    2. Posted by Karl A Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    In his last 10 fights he has 5 wins, 4 losses and one no contest. He might do well against Herring and KONGO. I'm sure Mir, Nog and dare I say "Lesnar" have zero concern.
  3. christian s
    3. Posted by christian s Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    overeem was 214.8 at Dream 6 in september. doesnt look like that big of a jump. it was cro cop that weighed in the 220lbs range.
    dont accuse someone of steroid use if you dont have your facts straight sir.
  4. christian s
    4. Posted by christian s Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    overeem was 241.8 at Dream 6 in september. doesnt look like that big of a jump. it was cro cop that weighed in the 220lbs range.
    dont accuse someone of steroid use if you dont have your facts straight sir.
  5. christian s
    5. Posted by christian s Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    messed up, correct is 241.8
  6. Ron M
    6. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Don't be naive. Those are huge weight fluctuations. Even if you give him the benefit of the doubt you would certainly have to question his level of conditioning and health... of gaining and losing 50 pounds in relatively short periods of time.
  7. christian s
    7. Posted by christian s Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    huge weight fluctuations? look at the time span in between fights. if he is serious about being a big heavyweight, weight lifting and a strong protein rich diet can make those jumps easily attainable. ive jumped 20lbs in 3 months with just creatine and protein.
  8. Farthammer
    8. Posted by Farthammer Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    Gaining 30 pounds of solid muscle while training MMA, which is intense cardio, is almost impossible when you are that large. Going from 165 to 195 in 13 months? Possible. Going from 224 to 253? Get serious.
  9. Brook
    9. Posted by Brook Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT

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    No kidding. By looking at the videos, the guy put on 30 pounds of muscle in about 4 months. There's no flab on the guy, just muscle.
  10. Darkness!
    10. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    sorry christian s-
    I have to agree with Ron M and Farthammer here. Even though it is possible for a weightlifter, bodybuilder, etc. to gain 30 lbs. of lean muscle mass in about a year with a high protein diet, the right LEGAL supplements, etc. when u factor in several hrs. a day of cardio training required for elite mma competitiors at the level of Dream and UFC, that seems physically impossible. I don't accuse anyone of anything; but if that guy's natural- he's a freak of nature. Also agree with Karl- the likes of Fedor, Mir, and Lesnar are prob. not too concerned with Overeem at this point...
  11. Ron M
    11. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Ok, even if the guy is natural and that's a huge stretch...you have to question the logic of moving up to HW. I would think that with his size...height and reach he would be much better dropping back down to LHW.
  12. Karl A
    12. Posted by Karl A Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    I have to agree with Ron M, Farthammer and Darkness. To gain that much and still maintain his cardio....give me a break.
  13. Nutcracker
    13. Posted by Nutcracker Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

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    Here is a dead giveaway. If the guy gains weight, and he has those really puffy cheeks the way overeem does, he is juicing. Creatine makes you gain weight, but it is mostly water weight.. This guy I would assume is mostly training cardio and maybe some weights. But the amount of cardio that goes into being a fighter and gaining muscle of that quality in that short of amount of time..... Impossible without some anabolics.. Maybe some GH and some anti estrogens to keep pesky side effects and water retention at bay.
  14. Ron M
    14. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Can you maintain your cardio when you have that much muscle? Your endurance would certainly suffer. That's what I don't really understand. The advantage you would initially have early in the fight would be gone if someone pushed you into the later rounds.
  15. christian s
    15. Posted by christian s Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    ok everyone google DREAM 6 weigh ins. HE WEIGHED IN AT 241.8. colfield doesnt know what he is writing about, he is always wrong with the facts. if you dont believe me, google.
  16. Ron M
    16. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Ummm, not sure what your talking about Christian. Cofield says Dream 6 241 and K-1 Dynamite 253.
  17. KJ-MMA Armchair
    17. Posted by KJ-MMA Armchair Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    Overeem became too weak cutting down a lot of weight to make 205lbs. He probably walked around at 230 (Forrest Griffin, it is claimed, can walk around at 240lbs some times between fights).
    I'll believe he was 241, but if he did make a jump between 241 and 253 in a short space of time, he may have had a special ingredient added to his diet.
    Either that, or the dutch love their xmas turkey more then we previously thought.
  18. mmafan
    18. Posted by mmafan Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    what really blows me away is that there are almost 20 posts on this blog and none of them are from jtakeo11! lol....i'm sure he' will be freaked out to see a blog about his boy........
    this guy reminds me of barry bonds......lean one day and then shows up 30 pounds heavier less than 8 months later. thats hard to do without some "help"....overeem has gained almost 50 lbs since feb 2007. thats quite a increase in weight for a young guy who works out everyday. i'm with nutcracker......the dudes not natural.
  19. Steven W
    19. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    even though he probably wouldn't fare well with the elite hw's in the world......i'm still all for bringing him into the ufc and seeing where he's really at these days, the same as i'd be for any name fighters overseas....or just about any talented fighters not in the ufc for that matter. i've watched both alistair and his brother for a long time and even though he's not top 5 or anything, he's come a very long way and actually might fare a little better as a heavyweight in my opinion. as a LtHvy he's got a little reach advantage on most and he's a pretty good striker, but there's a ton of other great strikers at that weight that can get inside of him and expose his chin. at HW he still has good reach as well as a level of striking that isn't often rivaled in that division except by the best, and he's not going to sub a bjj black belt or anything but he has a great knowledge of the game. and if he came over to the ufc he'd definitely mix it up and maybe even knock out or submit a top guy or two in a flash of brilliance.....stranger things have happened my friends
    and as far as the juicing thing goes....doesn't matter since he's always followed the rules of wherever he fought. if he juiced to get that big in japan and ends up getting an offer for the ufc he'd be held to the same standards as all the rest of the fighters under whichever state's athletic commission he fought, he deserves a piece too in my opinion he's put in his work and stepped in the ring with some of the best.....i mean heath herring made it to the ufc right?! what a POS he is
  20. Ron M
    20. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    C'mon he hasn't been putting in the work. He was getting his ass kicked so he started usinig steroids. Look at the size of his freakin face and head. How the hell does your head get bigger from lifting weights. The UFC doesn't need Overeem. There's plenty of young guys that rely on their actual talent and not drugs.
  21. Steven W
    21. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    anyone can make a healthy argument against Jtakeo's #2 heavyweight theory, but nobody can argue the fact that there's much worse guys that have been in the cage/ring as opposition to the so called best in the world these days than a guy like alistair overeem.....so if you're gonna bring up his record and who he's won or lost against, does it really matter when guys like heath herring, jake obrien, al-turk, brock lesnar and so many more get their chance in the ufc?
  22. Ron M
    22. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    That's the thing though. We don't know what kind of fighter he would be off the juice. He would probably be just another run of the mill gatekeeper type HW in the UFC. With that said...I would have no problem seeing him fight in the UFC.
  23. Nutcracker
    23. Posted by Nutcracker Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

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    Ron M. There are roids that can also help with your stamina, so you can gain size and improve your cardio. I wont get all technical on you, but simple anabolics like Winstrol will actually harden you up and increase your stamina. You can stack it with roids that put more mass so you kind of get the best of both worlds. You can harden up what othewise looks like a stuffed pig. I am sure you have seen those red cheeked, bloated dudes in the gym. Not to mention GH, and EPO.. Also Winstrol increases your red blood cell count, thus improving stamina. I dont endorse its use (steroids and ancillary drugs) but I have used them and it is scary how vast the difference is ON as opposed to OFF..
  24. HD guy
    24. Posted by HD guy Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:45 pm EDT

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    Bring him in, test him, and put him in the cage with Cain Vasquez, and let’s see. What would it hurt? If he passes the drug test, it doesn't make a difference. If he fails, back to Japan with him.
  25. IDGAD
    25. Posted by IDGAD Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    "Miraculous" is right! Of course, I guess it could be extra wheat germ in his meat loaf.

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