Strikeforce Champ Alistair Overeem: "I don't have time to think about fighting Fedor Emelianenko."
Copyright Golden Glory.
As the promotional horses leave the stable on a potential matchup between Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion ”Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1) and ninth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (13-4-1), Strikeforce heavyweight champion “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (29-10) seems as disinterested as ever.
Overeem told Fighters.com Monday, “I don’t have time to think about [defending my title versus Emelianenko] because my focus is now on the K-1 tournament on December 5.”
A decorated kickboxer and celebrity in Japan and his native Holland, Overeem will start-off a one-night, eight-man kickboxing tournament versus Ewerton Teixeira at FieLDS K-1 World GP 2009 in Yokohama December 5.
One can’t blame Overeem for focusing on his next challenge, but…really? As Strikeforce champion, Overeem is the rightful next opponent for a living MMA legend, Emelianenko, and he doesn’t even have time to think about it?
Overeem hasn’t defended his title since winning the belt when he forced “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (27-10) to give up due to murderous knee strikes at Strikeforce in San Jose in November 2007. For most of the last two years, one couldn’t blame him. While a celebrity in Japan and Holland, Overeem is largely unknown in North America and Strikeforce wasn’t able to offer him the quality opponents and paydays he receives fighting before the adoring Japanese and Dutch crowds.
But, in August Strikeforce matched Overeem in a title defense versus Werdum which Overeem withdrew from with a persistently infected hand resulting from a bar brawl in Amsterdam last May. The injury was described by Overeem’s manager, Bas Boon, as nearly costing Overeem his hand.
But, since he withdrew from that fight in August, Overeem has been one of the busiest men in combat sports. In October, he tapped Tony Sylvester (10-2) in a guillotine choke at Ultimate Glory 11 in Amsterdam, then did the same to “Colossus” James Thompson (14-10) at DREAM.12 in Osaka a week later. And, now Overeem is competing a grueling kickboxing tournament in December.
His resistance to fighting for Strikeforce has caused North American fans to speculate, but evidently Overeem is aware of his Stateside reputation and follows the maxim that all publicity is good publicty. When Fighters.com confronted a source close to Overeem, the person said, “Alistair says, ‘Let them talk. At least they’re talking about me and it will make my return to the U.S. even bigger.’”
“I will fight for Strikeforce in the first quarter of 2010,” Overeem promised Fighters.com Monday.
But, in the meantime, Werdum has endeared himself to CBS, Strikeforce, and North American fans with a balls-out three-round unanimous decision over “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (12-2) on North American network television Saturday night. And, a source told Fighters.com Monday that Emelianenko’s management, M-1 Global, favors a fight versus Werdum rather than Overeem.
Overeem reiterated, “I have stated that I would like to fight Fedor. If the promoter wants me to fight somebody else, I’m fine with it too. I will fight anybody, so it’s not up to me.”
All of that is very true. The final arbiter on Emelianenko’s next matchup is likely CBS. But, if Overeem wants to fight Emelianenko, it would help if he seemed a little more excited for the opportunity.
Werdum knows it’s not up to him either, but he told the post-fight press conference in Chicago Saturday, “It’s my turn to fight Fedor.”
Meanwhile, Overeem can’t be bothered.
Fighters.com contacted Strikeforce to ask what would happen if Overeem exerts his claim as Strikeforce champion, thereby making Emelianenko his top contender. Has Overeem waited too long to matter anymore? Will Overeem be stripped of his title in favor of a more promotable Emelianenko versus Werdum title fight? Will MMA fans have to suffer another interim championship fight? Will Strikeforce go through the motions of having Overeem defend his title versus someone other than Emelianenko to promote an eventual title fight between the winner of that fight and the winner of Emelianenko versus Werdum? Strikeforce didn’t reply to Fighters.com’s request for comment, but CEO Scott Coker already hinted that Emelianenko and Werdum are a likely matchup regardless of what Overeem does.
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Strikeforce doesn’t have very many options right now. They need to get Overeem to fight in January or February. Overeem vs Fedor is the only fight I want to see. I like Werdum but in a fight with Fedor he is guaranteed to lose. Fedor will kill him in the stand-up and I don’t see Fedor being submitted or getting owned on the ground.
Fedor may not be the most “perfect” fighter but the point of winning is to win – not to win pretty or without lets say a bloody nose. If Rogers did not get that jab in at the beginning of the fight then Fedor’s face would be fine, minus a few forehead abrasions. But who can blame him? Fedor weighed about 230 lbs. and Rogers 265 lbs. and despite the weight advantage, Fedor was able to take him down at least twice. I would bet that anyone who is outweighed by 40 pounds would potentially have some difficulties. How about Lesnar? He is huge and that size is the only reason why he beat Couture who is too technically proficient for him. Fedor is extremely explosive and does not hesitate which many fighters do. If he sees an opening he goes for it. Bret Rogers was hesitant in the fight. Now I would say that eventually Fedor will loose but the fact that he has so many options (judo, sambo, boxing, takedown defense, muy tai etc.) it will most likely come from a good punch or ground and pound. I liked how Fedor in the fight with Rogers pushed him off while at the fence by putting his leg behind rogers leg causing imbalance for rogers. Nice technique.
I don’t think Brock would ’smash’ Fedor, but I would love to see the fight. I think Fedor would win, but it could go either way.
Hope it happens early in 2010.
Both Overeem and Werdum are worthy and dangerous opponents for TPR (The Pudgy Russian). Silva was an excellent test for Werdum. The ground battle was quick and technical. It is likely that TPR would pound him into submission, but Werdum could surprise him if it got to the ground. Overeem is Strikeforce’s champ, but more importantly he has the international experience and skills combined with the fact he is obviously in the prime of his career. Again, it is likely that TPR would knock Overeem out. However, Overeem is very quick and lethal with his legs. In my opinion, younger and quicker opponents have a better chance of surprising TPR at this point in his career than the huge, more ponderous athletes like Lesnar, Carwin and Rogers.
Long live TPR. Long may he reign.
lol love the “TPR” call. Overeem is better then most, but hes got a chin just like Arlovskis. You see the guys last 7 opponents:
1) James Thompson-journeyman/weak chin(lost to kimbo)
2) Tony Sylvester 14-3, but nobody well known on his resume
3) Big Daddy Gary Goodridge-lol is all i have to say about that
4) Mark Hunt-Tough dude, but has lost 5 in a row, albeit Fedor and Barnett were 2.
5) Cro Cop-had to knee and kick his nuts numerous times to get a NC
6) Lee Tae-Hyun-2 pro fights, 300 pound blimp
7) Paul Buentello-tough dude, not even close to top 25 hw etc etc..
Overeem is a braggart, and moron (see bar fight that caused infection in his hand) and doesn’t deserve a shot against Fedor for the way he’s disrespecting him. I’m still stunned that he said he doesn’t have time for Fedor, and is dismissing him like that. Hope it’s just publicity. TPR is the man, and I can’t wait to watch Fedor smash his sneering mug.
Peace
Alastair vs Fedor would be a great fight. I think Fedor would win, as I see Alastair being too aggressive, and getting knocked out when he goes for one of his flying knees, just like Fedor did to Arlavski.
Overreem had already lost to Werdum in Pride in a very easy fashion. Werdum said that what he’s got is just a guillotine choke and he proves it by choking out Overreem. He poses no threat to Fedor in any way. And Werdum would likely lose to Fedor in the same way that Nogueira loses to Fedor because they have the same basic style. Though Werdum must have a stronger chin else he would lose via a knockout punch.