Issue 122

December 2014

Expectations went through the roof when Alistair Overeem joined the UFC in 2011. Fans worldwide feverishly rubbed their hands together when Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White eventually signed the big Dutchman. Finally, we had a very serious threat to challenge the Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos monopoly.

NICK PEET

Fighters Only editor discusses the rise and subsequent fall of Alistair Overeem since he joined the UFC

Unbeaten in 11 straight coming in, his first foray into the big show only heightened fans’ anticipation when he obliterated former champion Brock Lesnar with an onslaught of strikes on the eve of New Year’s Eve back in 2011. But now all that excitement has been replaced, just as dramatically, with wholesale despondency. 

Overeem has been knocked out three times in four Octagon outings. His career dodgy chin has come back to haunt him at the worst possible time. But what’s far worse is the manner of his performances also appear to be deteriorating. 

Admittedly the heavyweight division, arguably more than any other, is going to throw up big upsets. The sheer size and power of the athletes involved ensures one perfectly timed strike can end anybody’s night, which is why these monster matches generate so much interest and with them financial reward.

And Overeem can finish like the best of them. At one time, the former Strikeforce and Dream champion would utilize his K-1 proven kickboxing expertise to dominate opponents. From behind a nice tight guard, he would close the distance on foes, force them up against the ropes or cage, then drive in those big knees along with slashing with elbows and crippling body and leg kicks. 

But that Overeem hasn’t arrived in the UFC. Maybe it’s the presence of so many high-level grapplers forcing him to keep his down hands low, but Overeem’s lack of guard is presenting opponents with a target and his chin has always proven susceptible. Against both ‘Bigfoot’ Silva at UFC 156 and Travis Browne at Fight Night 26 last summer, Overeem had his moments.

During the opening two rounds against ‘Bigfoot’, both of which he won, Overeem was on point. Only for him to ultimately get clipped and finished as he became tired and predictable in the third round. Likewise, against Browne he dominated the first two minutes, bludgeoning the Hawaiian with knees and hammer fists, and was seemingly one final big strike away from a finish.

But then, again, his tank ran dry. He stood in front of Browne – like he had done against Silva – and allowed himself to get caught in the no man’s land of being on the end of strikes he’s never been comfortable with. It’s when Overeem stands in front of opponents, moving in straight lines, with his hands low and his chin at the end of their target range when he gets found out.

After those back-to-back defeats, he bounced back by decisioning Frank Mir at UFC 169 with a much more controlled performance. He put in a safety-first display against the former champion. But if Mir had been willing to exchange he would have found openings as Overeem closed the distance with his hands by his sides.

‘Big’ Ben Rothwell was delighted to receive the same opportunity at UFC Fight Night 50 in September. With a new corner team, in Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn, and fresh from injuring light heavyweight champ Jon Jones in camp, the stage was set for the real Overeem to make a triumphant return.

Granite-chinned Rothwell, a veteran of the division whose only career TKO defeats have come via a barrage of strikes yet is ranked nowhere near the top 15, was ideal cannon fodder for a resurgent Overeem. Cumbersome and predictable, Rothwell’s game plan for every fight is the same: soak up strikes and unload heavy bombs until one connects. Overeem was happy to oblige. 

The problem now is, where does ‘The Reem’ go from here? With Anderson Silva’s horrific injury and the departure of Georges St Pierre, the UFC is lacking headliners so the last thing it’ll be in a hurry to do is push another former fan-favorite ticket-seller out the exit. But is this indeed a blip, or is this actually the end of Overeem’s MMA career? 

Is he following in the footsteps of David Terrell and Joe Stevenson? Fighters once thought of as possessing unlimited potential, yet ruthlessly found out at the highest level. Or after 15 years of elite prizefighting is ‘The Reem’ on the same path endured by Ken Shamrock, Tim Sylvia and Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ – has age caught up with him? Does he need the UFC to step in and save him from himself, like it did with Chuck Liddell?

It’s unlikely even a departure from the Octagon would result in Overeem’s retirement from fight sports. But at least back in K-1 or fighting for the likes of Glory he would have no option but to go back to the kickboxing style of his finer years. 

Perhaps it’s time to accept that the diverse fighting styles and big hitters of the Octagon may just be a step too far for the once-menacing Dutchman.