Alistair Overeem says move to heavyweight partially inspired by division's lack of depth

Five years ago Alistair Overeem was a 205er struggling to find consistency in the cage including a seven-fight stretch where he went 2-5. Today he’s one of the top heavyweights in MMA, deciding to move up rather than down as is often seen when a fighter endures a rough stretch in the ring.

The powerful Dutchman recently elaborated on his change in divisional home where he said the main factors motivating him to do so related to health as well as the lack of competition there in comparison to light heavyweight.

“Everyone around me, including friends of mine I have known since we were kids, knew right away it was the right call when I moved to heavyweight full time in 2007,” wrote Overeem in his Yahoo blog. “Some fans and MMA media didn’t understand it, they thought ‘How is he going to do any better at heavyweight, he will not do as well as at 205 lbs,’ but I make the decision after taking a hard look at myself.”

“I took an honest look at myself and made some hard decisions,” the 31-year old continued. “While I had some impressive results like beating Vitor Belfort twice, I was not living up to my potential and I took a good look at the reasons why. I decided that one of the main reasons I wasn’t living up to my talents was I was starving myself to make 205 pounds. I could not eat correctly, could not train weights. I was weak at the weight and wasn’t even healthy, much less fit and healthy.”

However, the additional weight suiting his physical frame was far from the only reason Overeem left light heavyweight, adding, “Plus – and this is something fighters never ever usually admit – the fact is 205 lbs is a division stacked with talent and the heavyweight division doesn’t have that many world class fighters. I am happy to admit that. At 205 lbs., you have a great champion in Jon Jones, and very talented guys like Lyoto Machida, (Quinton Jackson), Ryan Bader, Forrest Griffin, Dan Henderson, (Mauricio Rua) – the list goes on and on. Anyone in the Top 15 at light heavyweight is a dangerous fight, while at heavyweight, if I am honest, there’s maybe eight or nine true world class fighters competing at heavyweight.”

“There are some fighters who I think are born great, guys like Georges St. Pierre and Jones. I was born a very good fighter, but I have to work very hard to get to ‘great’ and that’s why I have made so many sacrifices already to win the UFC title,” Overeem concluded.

Winner of Overeem vs. Lesnar to Receive Title-Shot

Overeem will find out if his sacrifices have been worth it when he faces one of the division’s strongest foes in the form of Brock Lesnar before year’s end at UFC 141.

PHOTO CREDIT – K-1