The saga between former Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem and his former management company continues as the fighters purse is being held in escrow by the Nevada District Court.
Knock Out Investments, better known as Golden Glory, is suing the Dutch fighter over money they say he owes them. ESPN.com broke the news earlier this evening.
Knock Out Investments, a fighter management group embroiled in dueling lawsuits with the Dutch heavyweight, asked the court to withhold money owed to the Overeem. That includes his purse, a win bonus, performance bonus and pay-per-view provider proceeds.
KOI claims Overeem did not pay a 30 percent commission to the company following his win in Strikeforce against Fabricio Werdum on June 18. KOI then negotiated Overeem’s deal with Zuffa, the parent company of UFC, in September for his fight with Lesnar.
In its order, the Nevada court, citing an existing an enforceable contract, asked Zuffa to “issue a check from the portion of the purse owed to Overeem in the respective amount of $241,285,49, made payable to Knock-Out Investments; and that the Nevada State Athletic Commission shall hold” the check pending further order of the court.
Overeem is scheduled to face former UFC champ Brock Lesnar tonight in the main event of UFC 141 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
So it appears, win or lose, that Overeem won’t see a paycheck until he gets this issues sorted out with his former management company.
The 30% commission is likely the issue that UFC president Dana White took issue with earlier this summer after several Golden Glory fighters were released. Thirty percent of anyone’s paycheck seems pretty steep to me.