Mirko Cro Cop vs Alistair Overeem at DREAM.6?

by Kid Nate on Aug 27, 2008 10:04 AM EDT in MMA News

Copreem_medium Nightmare of Battle has the following translation of Mirko's comments about his next fight (by way of Betwwx):

"Today I am going to Amsterdam where I will be preparing with Remy Bonjasky and Ivan Hyppolite. I trained in Zagreb with Dean Lister who is one of the best grapplers. It wasnt just preparation for this fight, its allways good to have that kind of sparing partner."

"It isnt still confirmed, but I would like to fight vs Overeem. I really dont know why he said that kind of statements. I was never choosing my opponents. That kind of conversation is not my style but I would like to say to him to save his strength for ring, not for talking. I really want this fight.

"He is good fighter, excellent puncher, and also good in parter. He had 93 kg and he jumped to 108 kilos and with his 196 centimeters he really looks impressive. But weight is always a two-edged sword."

Punch Drunk Gamer confirms the fight will take place at DREAM.6.

Once again this proves that talking smack is a great way to get a fight booked. Alistair's been asking for this fight for a while:

My desire to fight Cro Cop began when I read his interview stating nobody wanted to fight him and that’s why he fought some walking-punching bag-guy [Tatsuya Mizuno] at Dream 3. My management offered me a fight with him at that event and he declined. Then at the K-1 Amsterdam event my opponent got injured and the promoter attempted to arrange for Mirko to fight, again he declined… …This really pissed me off because now my fight was canceled because this douche-bag didn’t want to fight me while he was saying nobody wants to fight him. That’s crap, and that’s why I grabbed the microphone, and I’ll keep doing so until I get this fight. I will get him.

Graphic by MMA Mania.

With Cro Cop at #9 in the August Meta-rankings and Alistair at #16 (down from #13) this will easily be the most important heavyweight fight to take place in Japan since the collapse of PRIDE. Overeem's been on a tear since moving up in weight class and Cro Cop has been wobbly since his ill-fated signing to the UFC.

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Comments

Cro Cop is in trouble...

Overeem is a beast. At least from the fights I’ve seen. This should be good though. I predict Overeem knocks Cro Cop out. I can’t wait to see this. If this fight doesn’t give Japanese MMA a boost, I don’t know what would.

by Akorn on Aug 27, 2008 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

It’s funny that Overeem has moved down in the rankings…and won 3 straight fights…albeit Lee Tae-Hyun was a gimmie…

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Aug 27, 2008 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

BTW

I wasn’t implying that BE moved him down in the rankings…I know how they work :)

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Aug 27, 2008 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

This is a quality match up in my eyes. I do wish they had testing guidelines for different steroids in the fighters over seas though. I’m not trying to cast doubt on anyone but it does make me wonder about guys like Overeem. Guys with bad losing streaks suddenly come back huge and destroying opponents. Regardless I say CroCop in the first, juice doesn’t toughen the chin.

by Tommy7 on Aug 27, 2008 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

Alistair's biggest win

was in Strikeforce where he was in the jurisdiction of the CSAC. I’m not sure if he was tested or not.

by Kid Nate on Aug 27, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I personally thought he looked roided against Hunt. I’m not saying he is though. Obviously I have no idea, I’d just like there to be rules regulating testing in Asia. As much as I like Alvarez, I’d like to see him tested as well. Just seems odd to me that they forego all testing for the ‘honor system.’

by Tommy7 on Aug 27, 2008 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Was that not a title fight and therefore tested?

Can’t remember for sure.

Overeem is a big guy who made a hard cut to lhw and he seems much more comfortable at a higher weight.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 27, 2008 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know about Alistair, but Valentijn sure was looking ripped at Sengoku.

by Chris Nelson on Aug 27, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope this fight is a Go great HW fight and it will really help Dremas ratings. The people in Japan love CroCop

by Shocbomb on Aug 27, 2008 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

Overeem has looked great at HW. At this point, I would have to take him over CC, although it would be nice to see the old CC.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 27, 2008 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

If Alistair can talk his way into this fight

Why can’t Sokou get Shogun to lace em up?

PS; I think Alistair has come of age. UFC would do well to snatch him up when Dream sinks.

by Blackout612 on Aug 27, 2008 12:53 PM EDT reply actions

Alistar I also think is still signed to a few fights with strike Force also so they would also have to wait until that runs out.

by Shocbomb on Aug 27, 2008 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah, apparently his deal with Strikeforce was one fight. He negotiated with them over an extension but they couldn’t come to terms.

by Michaelthebox on Aug 27, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Hope this finally goes down for DREAM’s sake, but it’s a bad comeback match for Mirko.
Hell, it’s a bad match for anyone right now, Alistair has been ridiculous lately.

by Chris Nelson on Aug 27, 2008 12:54 PM EDT reply actions