Overeem Returns to Strikeforce Versus Werdum

Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (27-10) will return to Strikeforce at Carano vs. Cyborg in San Jose 15 August to defend his title for the first time since he claimed the belt in a five-round unanimous decision over “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) at Revenge in San Jose in 2006.

It’s also Overeem’s return to the United States after getting TKO’d by “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-3) in the first round of PRIDE 33 in Las Vegas in 2007.

Overeem will be challenged by “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1), who hasn’t fought since getting KO’d by Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked heavyweight “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (8-1) at UFC 90 in Rosemont, west of Chicago, last October. Werdum wasn’t signed to another UFC contract after the loss.

Werdum said, “Coming in as the challenger in a title match is a huge motivating factor for me. Whether the fight is against Alistair or another fighter doesn’t necessarily matter to me. What matters is that I am fighting the champion.”

Werdum tapped Overeem in a Kimura at PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute 2006.

Overeem responded, “I’m very happy that I’m being given the opportunity to fight him again and I’m looking forward to beating him.”

Overeem hasn’t fought since tapping “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (23-18-1) in a Kimura at Glory 10 last November.

Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked heayvweight “Grim” Brett Rogers (8-0) had hoped to challenge Overeem for the Strikeforce gold after knocking out tenth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7) in 22 seconds in Strikeforce last month in St. Louis.