Alistair Overeem Inches Closer to the UFC
by nk on Jan 21, 2009 5:55 PM EST
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PrintFighters Only Magazine is quoting Alistair Overeem as saying:
We will have to see what contract they [UFC] offer me and if the money is right then yes, I am definitely interested.
This would be a huge signing for the UFC as long as they can get him for the Germany card. If not, it is likely that he will not be worth the money as he is pretty much an unknown in the US.
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I think that’s entirely wrong. If, for whatever reason, Overeem isn’t available for the German card, he is still worth the investment. Cheick Kongo, Gabriel Gonzaga, and Heath Herring are all top level heavyweights who get pretty big paydays who don’t have the following of guys like Nogueira, Lesnar, Couture, or Mir. A talented, explosive, powerful heavyweight with a wealth of experience like Overeem, who just happens to be finally hitting his stride as a fighter, is a legitimate acquisition for any organization, especially the UFC. They have old PRIDE footage; all they would have to do would be play some of that and really have the announcers pump him up as a legitimate threat to anyone at HW and he would be a star. After one big win, he would be contending for the belt.
I think you’ve been living in the MMA echo chamber too long. Nogueira is not a big star in the US, and much/most of his current fame is a result of his presence on TUF. Overeem would be more comparable to Gonzaga and Kongo, both of whom make very good paydays, but I sincerely doubt that either make as much as Overeem could make with Dream/K-1.
They could still sign him to a huge contract for a number of other reasons (they think Overeem will be a top-3 fighter in the near future, they want to drive another nail in Dream’s coffin, they intend further expansion in Europe even without a show in Germany) but it isn’t a slam dunk.
by Michaelthebox on Jan 21, 2009 6:10 PM EST up reply actions
Overeem is more comparable to guys like Kongo and Gonzaga. That’s exactly what I said. And Nogueira is obviously a tier above them, based on what you already cited (his stint on TUF) as well as his comeback victory over Tim Sylvia on a card featuring Brock Lesnar that got over 600,000 buys. I don’t see the point you’re trying to make.
Also, all the UFC has to do is give his management evidence that he will earn just as much, if not more, in the UFC than in DREAM. That doesn’t mean they have to offer the same fight purse amount but simply give evidence of how much who would earn in terms of sponsorship money, as well as the amount of exposure the UFC gives in North America.
all they would have to do would be play some of that and really have the announcers pump him up as a legitimate threat to anyone at HW and he would be a star. After one big win, he would be contending for the belt.
If Overeem is comparable to guys like Kongo and Gonzaga, how does one big win make him a star and contending for the belt?
Obviously sponsorship money plays in, but fighters in Dream/K-1 also get plenty of sponsorship money; it wouldn’t surprise me if fighters in K-1 get similar or more sponsorships than UFC fighters (anybody in the know help me out?). And of course there is the ability to sign with different promotions and be able to fight more often, which is much more a factor for fighters with name pull in Japan, and especially Overeem who can fight both Dream and K-1.
Its a pretty complex game, and as I said, just based on performance and star power, the UFC probably would not be able to match K-1’s monetary offers. Other factors would have to contribute to a larger paycheck.
by Michaelthebox on Jan 21, 2009 6:23 PM EST up reply actions
In the same way...
that Gonzaga was made into a star and was contending for the belt after a win over Cro Cop. Yeah, it wasn’t his first fight in the promotion…but it only takes one fight with good exposure where a fighter impresses and you’ve got a potential contender on your hands.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Jan 22, 2009 10:49 AM EST up reply actions
I really don’t think Gonzaga is a star. He’s popular, but not star level. More than that, he wasn’t contending for the belt due to his one win over Cro-Cop, he was 4-0 at that point and the only logical contender for the belt. The division is much much deeper now, such that it makes no sense for Overeem to contend for the belt after one fight.
by Michaelthebox on Jan 22, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
Why would anyone want to see that? Even DREAM didn’t set that up out of pitty for Cro Cop.
I think Overeem may sign with Affliction actually. He is currently speaking to both, and he says he wants to fight Fedor and the best HWs. Imagine Arlovski vs Overeem at Affliction. That has GOLD written all over and much more appealing than against Cro Cop.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jan 21, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions
I think this is Affliction’s last show. If it is, then there’s only one place for him to go.
by Derek Suboticki on Jan 21, 2009 6:57 PM EST up reply actions
Well, they said they are doing 4 in 2009 so who knows.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jan 21, 2009 7:06 PM EST up reply actions
And McCain said he’d be President this year. Things change.
There’s literally a division of HW talent outside the UFC, and most have them have already fought each other. Time for the cream of the crop to join the cream of the crop (Zuffa).
by Derek Suboticki on Jan 21, 2009 7:18 PM EST up reply actions
Overeem vs. Fedor
Fedor vs. Barnett
Overeem vs. Arlovski
Barnett vs. Arlovski
Kharitonov vs. Fedor
CroCop vs. Arlovski
There are tons of great matchups that we haven’t seen yet.
You just listed every single matchup. Four more fights for Fedor in the career? I honestly cannot find his fifth fight after AA, Barnett (War Yvel!!), Kharitonov, and Overeem assuming he doesn’t sign with the UFC like he’s been hinting.
by Derek Suboticki on Jan 21, 2009 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
He didn't list Kharitonov vs AA
or Barnett vs AA or Overeem vs Kharitonov, (though that would happen in DREAM if anywhere), Crocop vs Kharitonov, Overeem vs Barnett, or Fedor, AA, Barnett vs Tito because it would awesome watching Tito get fucking crushed.
Gimme 1 Round!
I said before the HMC fight that Crocop has 1 more chance to redeem himself in my book
Before I write him off completely. Now I’m a hardcore Crocop fan so I can understand anybody that has written him off by now. I’m in the minority. But he did finish HMC so he hasn’t used up his last chance yet in my book. I remember his K-1 days… Anybody remember when he actually threw a RIGHT HK? He’s obviously missing something. I’m just praying, (foolishly most likely), that maybe he inexplicably stopped throwing any right kicks because it hurt his knee to plant and rotate it and put all that torque on it. Crocop still has the tools… The question is can he use them anymore. I’d be happy to see Mirko regain form.
Gimme 1 Round!
In the Shogun thread, didn’t you poop on CroCop as a nobody? Now you’re a CroCop fan? Or am I mistaken you with someone else? I think he’s doing pretty well in Japan. The guy needs to drop to 205.
I said Crocop has done pretty shitty in Japan too when you consider the only contender he fought
Because he was getting beaten pretty thoroughly on points by Overeem. Would Overeem have gassed out… Possibly, I think he was breathing very heavily even though he was on top of Mirko and I don’t buy that he’ll never gas again now that he’s at HW. I think other than that, (and his chin isn’t granite), Overeem is a brilliant talent. But undoubtedly at that point Mirko wasn’t looking spectacular at all. Lost badly on the ground – didn’t work for any sweeps, was losing on the feet – Overeem threw him around and took him down when he wanted and was thoroughly getting tooled. I, though a huge Mirko fan, was ready to write him off for good if he lost to HMC. It was nice to see him crush Mizuno the can and see that when he hurts somebody he still has killer instinct but that really proves nothing. HMC was too slow and Mirko fought a smart gameplan and finished him going to his legs. (Finishing him is a bright spot) He may be 2-0 with a NC in Japan, but even as a fan its hard to say its an amazing 2-0 and he’s been having all the injury issues also.
But as he finished HMC he’s still living on that last chance. And I can always hope for a miraculous comeback. Other fighters have had longer downturns in their career. Mirko’s just happened to come at the height of his career so he fell very far, very fast. WAR Mirko
You can do it! (maybe)
Gimme 1 Round!
Nice.
Did you know we are in high demand, Laura?
by Eugene Schelfaut on Jan 21, 2009 6:17 PM EST reply actions
But he’s one of the last stops on the Fedor Farewell Tour!
by Derek Suboticki on Jan 21, 2009 6:25 PM EST reply actions
He has two fights left for FEG, for him to be on the Germany card would require some kind of extraordinary action from the UFC, like buying out his contract and then signing him to a new, multi-million dollar deal. Overeem has the potential to be a very big star, but I don’t see them bending over backwards like that.
I don’t think it would have to be a new multi-million dollar deal but I do agree that for this whole thing to happen it would hinge on the FEG contract. Unless Overeem has some kind of out in his contract that we don’t know about the UFC would probably just wait until his current contract is over. Overeem is a real veteran of the sport who has been on the rise but I don’t know if he is currently worth enough for the UFC to go against what they normally say and do and go after a guy already under contract. It wouldn’t surprise me if the UFC doesn’t make a play for him after he finishes those two contracted fights but it would be odd if they did before that.
Its a nice feather in the cap of the UFC if they can get him, Just to say they have the guy that blasted the best or second best Kickboxer in the world under K1 rules. You combine that with the fact that he has a very fan friendly well rounded style and an awesome look and it makes him well worth the money, and as an added bonus the guy isnt afraid to talk some shit to sell a fight, I really hope they can work something out with FEG and lock down the demolition man.
YAMATO DAMASHII
How is Overeem “unknown” in the United States? To the casual fan, perhaps. To the hardcore fan, of course not. He’s fought three times in the United States, winning twice. And he was controlling his fight against Shogun before Shogun caught him with a vicious jumping overhand right while Overeem was on his back. Overeem is a stud. If he gets in the UFC, he’ll run through everyone outside of Brock, who he would still beat.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
We will have to see what contract they [UFC] offer me and if the money is right then yes, I am definitely interested.
That quote was very Tito like.
I thought he already owned them all???
by Derek Suboticki on Jan 22, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
no no no, this is what a sherdog post looks like
first, some insulting weird internet babble:
“QFT noob. this thread is an epic failure. you got pwnd!”
and then i’d rant about which fighter just lost last week being done.
“rich franklin is the worst fighter ever and needs to retire and was never good in the 1st place”
And can beat Fedor with one arm tied behind his back.
by Rundownloser on Jan 22, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
Once Overeem is centimeters away from signing w/ the UFC...
As in the pen is centimeters away from the contract, I’ll believe this and get excited to see him fight against the UFC Heavyweight Division.
Who knows, maybe that will be the fight that Chuck Liddell will move to Heavyweight for…. Overeem needs to avenge a loss to him so why not?
This will just be a rumor for a while I think.
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