Tag: UFC Fight Night 87

Former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski doesn’t mind fighting Alistair Overeem.

It’s the fact that Arlovski believes Overeem put Jackson-Wink MMA coaches in a difficult situation.

The two train under the same roof in New Mexico, but will square off in the Netherlands this Sunday in the main event of UFC Fight Night 87.

“No relationship,” said Arlovski, during an appearance on UFC Tonight. “We don’t have a relationship.”

“I don’t care (about fighting him). He put Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn in a spot. My opinion, it’s not right. Everyone is going to be in my corner (Sunday).”

Arlovski and Overeem have shared the same practice time at the gym before, thought that is not going to happen anytime soon.

“We sparred two times. The first time a couple years ago when he came to Jackson-Wink and second time before his fight with (Junior dos Santos) because Greg Jackson asked me,” Arlovski said. “When I sparred with him, I noticed he has great knees, very dangerous knees, elbow and feet. This is going to help me with this upcoming match against him.”

Alistair Overeem has heard Andrei Arlovski talk about how he isn’t happy that the two are set to meet this Sunday at UFC Fight Night 87 after Overeem joined Jackson-Wink MMA.

Overeem, a former Strikeforce champion, sees things differently.

“He keeps going on about this. I was not given a choice,” said Overeem, during an appearance on UFC Tonight. “Lorenzo (Fertitta) texted me that they wanted me to headline this fight in Rotterdam. They wanted me to fight Arlovski. I said I was fine with it. He’s not my buddy. We don’t even train together. I don’t have a problem with it.

“He’s training with Greg and Wink. I’m training with Chad Smith, the main wrestling coach, and the main BJJ coach, and I flew in some other coaches who I’ve been working with throughout my career. These are people I get along with very well and have good working relationship with.”

Overeem even went in-depth in discussing training sessions that to two have shared under the gym roof, saying that he definitely got the better of the former UFC champion.

“Sorry to open your eyes. This is a full-contact sport,” he said. “It’s the objective to disable your opponent even if sparring or a real fight. You’ve got to use your technique. Yeah, I did disable him in training. He’s never been my friend. I’m ok with it.”

As for where he goes with a win over Arlovski, that is easy, says Overeem.

“I expect to get a title shot after I beat Andrei Sunday,” he said. “But let’s not get ahead of it. He’s going to want to knock my head off. It’s my job to stay sharp and focused. But if I win, I expect to get that title shot in November.”