Alistair Overeem, since signing that much-coveted contract last September 6, is now—for all intents and purposes—a UFC fighter.
He is now officially a proud combatant of the most popular and prestigious MMA organization in the world.
But to others, especially those hopelessly afflicted by UFCentrism, The Dutch Cyclone remains an outsider. And they would like to believe that he is nothing more than an overgrown sheep being led to the slaughter.
Don’t be surprised that the promotion’s top dog himself silently seethes with the same perception towards the recently welcomed fighter. After all, Dana White has been the proud president of the UFC slaughterhouse since 2001.
Sure, White lavishes endless and much-deserved praise for Anderson Silva, MMA’s reigning pound-for-pound king whose UFC middleweight championship belt is sewn around his waist. This notwithstanding that The Spider is a former fighter of the now-defunct Pride Fighting Championship.
Count in, too, that the following Pride FC marquee fighters played musical chairs with the UFC light heavyweight throne before they got cut to the Bones: Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida and Maurico Rua.
The highly estimable veteran Dan Henderson is also back swinging in the UFC, surviving and winning the thrilling five-round attrition with Rua.
Lastly, Antonio Noguiera did become UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion. And we can’t blame those who think that “interim” is synonymous with “very temporary,” or worse, “phony.”
There is no doubt that that these elite fighters were given equal-opportunity treatment in the UFC after entering it as legal and highly-touted immigrants who jumped off a sinking ship. (Some may argue that Zuffa actually bought then blasted the submerging Pride FC Enterprise.)
Besides, they’re just too damn good to be ignored or swept aside, especially Silva. Heck, calling The Spider good nowadays is blasphemy.
But what about the other dozen Pride FC recruits who weren’t as fortunate?
Takanori Gomi has not been as impressive as he was in his former playground. Mirko Filipović had more losses than wins in the UFC (4-6), the last loss versus Roy Nelson pushing him into retirement.
In fairness to White, he had shown—and continues to show—patience and generosity to these Pride FC stalwarts.
This treatment merited the following grateful compliment from Filipović right before leaving the octagon for the last time: “I was treated like a king from the beginning. It’s in my best interest that this is my farewell fight, thanks everybody.”
A historical tidbit on the failed UFC expedition in the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix:
Back in the days when most MMA fans feverishly expressed their belief that Pride FC had the better fights and fighters, Dana White sent Chuck Liddell sailing to Japan to prove the popular opinion wrong.
The following is an accurate account on how it ended in disappointment for the Zuffa top brass:
After his defeat to Couture, Liddell entered the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix tournament as the official UFC representative. After defeating Muay-Thai specialist Alistair Overeem in the first round of the tournament In an action packed bout Liddell was getting out landed by the taller, quicker and more technical striking of Overeem but later in the round Liddell landed an overhand punch to the head of Overeem staggering him into the ropes, Liddell rushed in with knees and straight rights and knocked him out at the latter stages of the first round. In the next round Liddell was eliminated by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, The first round Liddell was landing shots as he found his distance but Jackson countered with powerful strikes rocking Liddell numerous times. In the second round, Jackson continued to out land Liddell with big punches but couldn’t finish him. Later in the second round a visibly exhausted and stunned Liddell was taken down at will numerous times and while taking a barrage of punches from the ground his corner threw in the towel, giving Jackson the upset victory.
Interestingly, Overeem is now presented a chance to avenge himself against the mother organization which sent the fighter who KO’d him in 2003, by invading her home as adopted son.
White, on his part, also gets to prove the superiority of his brand versus the fan favorite of yore with a Brock Lesnar win over Overeem, who is probably the last major holdover from the Pride FC unless the fading Fedor Emelianenko eventually signs up next.
This is now only a virtual battle—waged inside the minds of veteran MMA fans who are still nostalgic of the Japanese promotion’s heyday. As for all the glory that was Pride FC, it has become a mere collection of fight videos archived on YouTube.
Still, who knows what bitter memories make White lose some sleep?
Why Lesnar over The Reem?
Lesnar was also once an outsider: from the WWE into the UFC, with a foray into Japanese Pro-Wrestling, the NFL and K-1 Dynamite!! USA, respectively, in-between.
Who can forget how the crowd booed him during his entrance for his UFC debut, which he lost to Frank Mir?
“What’s a famous fake fighter doing in in our world of real fighting? To hell with his 2000 NCAA heavyweight championship title and one-fight victory over a certain Min Soo Kim!”
Eventually, Lesnar silenced many critics by becoming UFC champion. Not only that, he proved to be a boon to the sport, with UFC events featuring his fights garnering some of the biggest live gate, attendance and pay-per-view figures.
Also, Lesnar (5-2) built his still young MMA career and earned respectability as a legit fighter in the UFC.
The UFC can claim that Lesnar is its pet project, his only venture outside being a one-night affair in K-1 Dynamite!! USA for his first MMA fight.
Mainly for his drawing power, he is the UFC’s highest paid athlete.
Overeem, on the other hand, toiled over his 35-11 fight record in various other organizations, most significantly in Pride FC and Strikeforce—both main rival promotions of the UFC till Zuffa irrefutably proved who’s boss by buying ‘em out.
Lesnar is UFC’s darling and Overeem won’t take away that esteem very easily.
For now, Overeem has to content himself and be grateful that the UFC guaranteed him further employment.
He has to bear, though, that hardcore UFC loyalists led by White are praying for his beatdown in the hands of the former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
White’s got to be rooting for his boy Lesnar this UFC 141 on December 30, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He can’t wait to be vindicated once again in that Pride FC vs. UFC lingering war in his mind. To smirk in self-gratification in case Lesnar destroys Overeem and think to himself, “I knew it!”
After all, who invites his neighbor’s children to come over just to beat his very own?
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