Author: Mike Hodges

Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem: What an Overeem Win Means for the Division

Alistair Overeem has always been regarded as one of the very best in the heavyweight division and he has the opportunity to prove it at UFC 141.Overeem meets Brock Lesnar in the main event, with the winner earning a UFC heavyweight title shot next year…

Alistair Overeem has always been regarded as one of the very best in the heavyweight division and he has the opportunity to prove it at UFC 141.

Overeem meets Brock Lesnar in the main event, with the winner earning a UFC heavyweight title shot next year. The title implications couldn’t get any bigger.

If Overeem is able to successfully defeat Lesnar in impressive fashion, not only will he be in title contention, but it will also open up more competition. The idea of adding more competition to the rest of the division would make it much more stabilized and enjoyable to watch for the casual fans. 

Also, Overeem’s presence should add more intrigue to potential matchups with some of the division’s top fighters in Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir and Junior dos Santos. A potential bout with dos Santos is a better matchup, stylistically, and it would only help build the Dutchman’s name and image while promoting him as a pay-per-view draw.

Ideally, the UFC would have an easier time promoting a title bout between Lesnar and dos Santos and they would earn a lot more profit. However, Overeem’s world-class kickboxing would provide more intrigue when his skills are matched up with the Brazilian’s boxing.

Realistically, Lesnar is the better draw, but Overeem is the more interesting fighter out of the two heavyweights.

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Brock Lesnar Is "Blessed and Honored" to Compete at UFC 141

It’s only a matter of time before Brock Lesnar makes his presence known inside the Octagon again. Lesnar will make his anticipated return tomorrow night when he headlines UFC 141 against former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.Les…

It’s only a matter of time before Brock Lesnar makes his presence known inside the Octagon again. 

Lesnar will make his anticipated return tomorrow night when he headlines UFC 141 against former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

Lesnar is returning after a 14-month layoff, during which he battled diverticulitis. The illness hindered his opportunity to challenge for the UFC heavyweight title. 

Now, the former UFC heavyweight champion is confident and healthy to compete this weekend.

“I just feel blessed that I’m here. I feel honored and blessed. I just want to get into the Octagon and perform,” Lesnar told MMAFighting.com.

Given his health issues and extended layoff, Lesnar is an underdog against the 255-pound Overeem. 

However, the odds stacked against Lesnar have made the former WWE superstar hungrier than ever to walk away with the victory. He is focused on regaining the heavyweight title.

“I want to be the best heavyweight champion in the world,” he said. ” I don’t think there is another heavyweight in the world in this division that has done what I’ve done.”

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Chael Sonnen Needs "Support" from Brazil to Challenge Anderson Silva

In another attempt to provoke UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen has reached out to an unlikely source.After repeatedly criticizing and mocking the Brazilian’s homeland, Sonnen has asked fans of Palmeiras, a Sao Paulo-based soccer t…

In another attempt to provoke UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen has reached out to an unlikely source.

After repeatedly criticizing and mocking the Brazilian’s homeland, Sonnen has asked fans of Palmeiras, a Sao Paulo-based soccer team, to support the middleweight in his quest to capture the UFC middleweight title. Palmeiras is a rival club of Corinthians, and Silva is one of the latter club’s supporters.

“It will be champion versus champion. It will be Palmeiras versus Corinthians. It will be the end of Anderson Silva,” Sonnen said in an exclusive promo for his upcoming bout with Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2 on January 14th. 

Despite no longer taking an interest in a potential bout with the Brazilian, Sonnen appears to using a marketing ploy to attract as many fans as possible while also luring Silva into a rematch.

Silva is expected to make a return to the Octagon sometime in mid-2012, where he is slated to make his next title defense against the winner of Sonnen and Munoz.

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UFC 141: Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem Face off at Pre-Fight Conference

With only days remaining until UFC 141, main eventers Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem are ready to fight.Lesnar and Overeem are prepared to meet in a five-round non-title bout that will headline UFC 141 this Friday night. Both men are entering the bo…

With only days remaining until UFC 141, main eventers Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem are ready to fight.

Lesnar and Overeem are prepared to meet in a five-round non-title bout that will headline UFC 141 this Friday night. Both men are entering the bout with the intention of challenging for the UFC heavyweight title in the future. 

Lesnar is returning after a second encounter with diverticulitis and holds a record of 5-2 inside the Octagon. This bout will mark the UFC debut of Overeem, who has held multiple titles in different organizations and is currently riding a 10-fight winning streak. 

Also scheduled for the co-main event slot is a bout between Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz. The fighters squared off in a heated confrontation during the conference, with Diaz shoving his opponent. UFC President Dana White was able to immediately step in and break it apart.

Although they were not in attendance, welterweights Jon Fitch and Johny Hendricks are slated to meet on the main card as well.

UFC 141 is live this Friday night from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

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Alistair Overeem Calls Bout with Brock Lesnar "One of the Biggest Fights Ever"

Alistair Overeem’s credibility as a fighter has always been up for debate, especially since he made the transition to the heavyweight division in 2008. His 255-pound, chiseled frame has brought attention to the former Strikeforce heavyweight champ…

Alistair Overeem’s credibility as a fighter has always been up for debate, especially since he made the transition to the heavyweight division in 2008. 

His 255-pound, chiseled frame has brought attention to the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion. Overeem has had to address the media on multiple occasions regarding his alleged steroid abuse.

Overeem will make his UFC debut this weekend against Brock Lesnar, and despite all the attention he has received thus far, the Dutchman isn’t about to wilt under pressure or become distracted.

“There have been some distractions, yes, but I’m pretty good at focusing myself, keeping the focusing on the training,” Overeem told MMAJunkie.com during an open workout earlier this week. “My team has also taken, I’d say, 99 percent of the weight off my shoulders, and that kept me focused.”

Overeem and Lesnar are slated to meet in the main event at UFC 141. The winner is then expected to challenge the current heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos. 

The amount of attention Overeem has received since his arrival to the UFC would certainly be overwhelming for some fighters—especially those headlining a main card—but “The Demolition Man” is having to answer more questions than usual. 

Overeem anticipates this kind of attention in the spotlight. He said he believes there is a lot of value surrounding his upcoming bout with Lesnar.

“Of course then there’s going to be more media, more cameras, more people, more opinions, more everything. But it’s part of our job,” he said. “In my opinion, this is one of the biggest fights ever.” 

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Jon Fitch Wants Interim Title Shot Against Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit

Jon Fitch might be focused on his upcoming bout against Johny Hendricks at UFC 141, but he still intends on competing for a future title shot.While making his prediction for the heavyweight bout involving Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, scheduled to…

Jon Fitch might be focused on his upcoming bout against Johny Hendricks at UFC 141, but he still intends on competing for a future title shot.

While making his prediction for the heavyweight bout involving Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, scheduled to headline the event this weekend, Fitch also spoke about the current status of the UFC welterweight division.

“I think things become a mess when the clear number two welterweight in the world, which is me, is injured and out of the mix,” Fitch told Fighting Famous TV. “I have a big fight in front of me with Johny Hendricks and I look forward to fighting him and hopefully putting him away.”

Fitch last entered the Octagon in a pivotal bout against BJ Penn, which saw both competitors fight to a draw. Following the result, while protesting for an immediate rematch with the Hawaiian, Fitch suffered a shoulder injury which has kept him out of action for a majority of the year.

Fitch intends on making a statement in his bout against Hendricks, and retain his contender status, in hopes of earning an opportunity to face either Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit. 

“I think with my credentials and with what I’ve accomplished in the UFC and a big fight with Johny Hendricks, I think I should seal a fight with whoever wins [the Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit fight],” he said.

UFC 141 is scheduled for this Friday night, live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

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