Alistair Overeem will look to collect his first two-fight win streak in two years when he faces Aleksei Oleinik this Saturday (April 20, 2019) in main event of UFC Fight Night 149 inside Yubileyny Sports Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Overeem was initially set to face Alexander Volkov before the towering big man was forced out of the fight. The switch didn’t do much to bring down “The Reem’s” confidence, and says he plans to roll out a bit more aggressive style come fight night.
“There’s been a change in my fight style it’s more aggressive, it’s more pushing forward, it’s something that we focused on for that fight (with Pavlovich),” Overeem said in interview with UFC.com. “Now it’s a new opponent different fight, so some new skill-set will be shown on Saturday.”
A charging Overeem is a scary sight for any man.
While Oleinik possesses some of the best ground skills of any Heavyweight on the UFC roster, Overeem says he is confident he can win the fight anywhere. And he doesn’t plan on leaving it in the hands of the judges, predicting a stoppage victory.
“Well it could be striking. I’m a striker,” Overeem said. “It could be on the ground, I got good ground and pound. It could be submission. It’s MMA, there is 1001 ways to beat somebody up, to finish somebody. Again, I’m sharp and everything is there, everything is there this week and everything will be there this Saturday and we’re gonna beat him up,” he added.
“I think I’m better everywhere but he does have a very slick submission game,” Overeem said. “He also has some striking. He’s a very aggressive fight and he pushes the pace. Still never the less I’m not worried. I focused on my own shape and I’m in phenomenal shape and I predict this will not go the distance.”
Indeed, Aleksei has collected a whopping 46 victories by way of submission, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind what his gameplan is come fight night. Oleinik submitted Junior Albini and Mark Hunt in back-to-back fights, and now eyes his first-ever three-fight win streak inside the Octagon.
To see the complete UFC Fight Night 149: “Overeem vs Oleinik” fight card click here.