Issue 119

Lock it in and jack it up: Strikeforce heavyweight Valentijn Overeem sets up the rare crank in indomitable style.

While news of Fedor’s loss grabbed all the headlines at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Silva, Valentijn Overeem had a story to tell of his own.

Keen to make the perfect statement as to why he should be considered as one of the division’s elite, he perfectly executed a vicious neck crank that sent Ray Sefo packing and out of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament. The pair battled to win the right as an alternate, meaning if one of the selected eight fighters in the tournament becomes injured, the winner will take their place. 

“Despite his stand-up credentials, I decided first to exchange with Sefo,” reveals Valentijn. “I was confident doing this as I train with Golden Glory fighters where the majority have great stand up.

I saw that kick from Anderson Silva and tried to land it on the head of Sefo but he moved backwards slightly so I missed. I then saw the opportunity for a shoot so I took him down and the crank came naturally.”

While the crank may have seemed natural to Valentijn, it requires technical precision. Valentijn secured side control with his right arm under Sefo’s neck while using his hip to stop Sefo’s left arm sliding down and becoming free.

Valentijn then twisted his body round and grabbed his left bicep with his right hand, cranking Sefo’s neck and forcing him to tap out at just 1:37 of the first round. Although he has trained the crank before, Valentijn insists it was purely a moment of quick thinking rather than a pre-planned execution.

“This was not planned but I just got him in this position,” says Valentijn. “Like when I fought Couture, it was not planned to finish him with a guillotine choke, it just happened in a millisecond.

My corner told me that if it went to the ground it would not take more then a minute for me to finish the fight; they were right. I want to thank my sponsor Fight Game, all my other sponsors, my management and my team for believing in me.”

As the hype rapidly thickens over Valentijn’s younger brother Alistair Overeem, the crank was sure to steal some of his limelight.

Although the neck crank is common to any jiu-jitsu practioner’s arsenal, it is a rarity in MMA competition.

Perhaps it may become even more of a rarity if Valentijn is to execute it on his brother later on in the tournament should the pair ever face off. Fans can only dream...