Beyond the simple fact that they’re both top ranked UFC heavyweights, there’s an unmistakable appeal to the idea of a bout between former Strikeforce & Dream champion Alistair Overeem and recent UFC title contender Derrick Lewis. Most notably the interest lies in their clash of style and physicality.
Both ‘true’ big men – Overeem standing at 6’ 4” and most recently weighing in at 247 lbs, Derrick Lewis at 6’ 3” 265 – and both principally strikers, they nevertheless have developed dramatically different approaches to fighting in the Octagon.
Overeem’s style is tied to his physical evolution every bit as much as it is his technical ability. Once a somewhat reedy grappler with a mean clinch striking game, the ‘Demolition Man’ packed on muscle to go from a light heavyweight all the way up to the edges of the 265 lb division. With the changing physique came an increased emphasis on heavy strikes and a stalking, pressure approach. More recently, as Overeem has settled toward a more natural 245-ish lb weight (and paid more attention to an always troublesome chin), he’s become a flighty out-fighter. Happy to circle the outside of the cage, picking his moments to drop in with power shots before darting away again.
For Derrick Lewis, the biggest changes over his career have been all about patience and consistency. Blessed with unnatural punching power – and a much more natural, human level of durability and endurance – Lewis has moved away from his former, panicked style of aggression into a range game focused on powerful kicks and occasional bursts of swangin’ hooks. It’s a style that heavily emphasizes his one-shot KO ability, while distracting from a questionable gas tank and lack of wrestling.
In a fight between the two men, would Overeem’s craft, variety, and wealth of experience win out? Or would he once again find himself on the end of the kind of brutal knockout loss that Lewis can deliver at any moment?
That looks like a question even Overeem is interested in answering, as he made clear recently on his twitter feed:
The ‘Reem’ is currently coming off a fantastic first round KO of Sergey Pavlovich. One that looked much more similar to his ‘Ubereem’ days in in Strikeforce than his more recent run. That could mean that he puts Derrick Lewis on his back early and finishes him quick, or it could mean that he’ll be walking right into something big before he ever gets the chance.
‘The Black Beast’, on the other hand, is fresh off a lopsided loss to heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. A fight that broke a 3-win streak he had put together over 2018. However, it wasn’t a loss that appeared to deliver a lot of damage to the Texan. If he’s game, maybe fans will be looking at Overeem vs. Lewis early in 2019.