The gargantuan showdown between Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar could make UFC 141 the biggest event of 2011.
Cyril Garcia of Mixfight.nl caught up with the man known as “The Reem” outside a showing of Hollywood MMA film “Warrior.”
“I liked the movie and I think—I’m going to make a bold statement—but I think it was the best fighting movie out there,” Overeem said.
The movie has generally received positive reviews, racking up a whopping 84 percent on the Tomatometer on Rottentomatoes.com.
With that said, there won’t be any acting when Overeem meets Lesnar, a former UFC heavyweight champion.
Even though he simultaneously held the Strikeforce heavyweight title, Dream heavyweight title and K-1 World Grand Prix title, Overeem has been overlooked by some due to his success coming outside of the UFC.
Fans want to see fighters compete against the best before climbing to the top of the MMA ranks. Currently on a 10-fight win streak, Overeem has defeated stout opposition, but if he can get past Lesnar then he can begin to chip away at the skepticism surrounding his ability to be the best in the world.
“I don’t really talk about training, so there’s nothing to say there. I’m just going to do the usual. I know my body, I know how it works, and I’m very confident,” said Overeem. “It’s going to be a knockout victory in the first round. He’s not going to get out of the first round.”
UFC 141 takes place on December 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Overeem will enter this bout with a major edge in overall experience and striking, but Lesnar’s freakish athleticism and world-class wrestling should make things interesting.
The winner will be deemed the new No. 1 contender for a future UFC title bout with either Cain Velasquez or Junior Dos Santos.
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