We’re now just days removed from UFC Fight Night 87 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where Jackson-Wink MMA teammates Alistair Overeem and Andrei Arlovski are scheduled to meet in the main event.
But, although the two heavyweight veterans belong to the same team, it isn’t as if they’re putting a close friendship on the line.
“We sparred two times. The first time a couple years ago when he came to Jackson Wink and second time before his fight with (Junior dos Santos) because Greg Jackson asked me,” Arlovski said on UFC Tonight. “When I sparred with him, I noticed he has great knees, very dangerous knees elbow and feet. This is going to help me with this upcoming match against him.”
Arlovski appears to have no hang-ups about facing Overeem. However, he does seem bothered that his Dutch opponent was apparently the one who asked for the fight.
“He put Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn in a spot. My opinion, it’s not right,” Arlovski said.
This won’t be the first time two current Jackson-Wink teammates have fought against each other, but it will mark the first occasion when head coach Greg Jackson picks a side.
“I’m gonna work with Andrei and corner Andrei for the fight because I promised him I would,” Jackson explained back in March. “Usually I step out, but Andrei’s kind of a special case.”
UFC Fight Night 87 takes place Sunday May 8th at Ahoy Rotterdam.
