Past the perpetual drama, Alistair Overeem remains one of the best in the world
LEDYARD, Conn. -- There's always something with Alistair Overeem, isn't there?
The Dutchman has had quite the colorful career outside the cage. There was the failed drug test, the alleged assault of a fan after his fight with Brock Lesnar, the messy splits with training camps and the jokes about horse meat.
Much like his fights, Overeem is rarely boring.
Coming into his co-main event bout Friday night against Ben Rothwell at UFC Fight Night on FOX Sports 1 (10 p.m.), the headlines have revolved around his alleged rapid weight loss and his social media back and forth with former training partner Anthony Johnson -- never mind the change in gyms to Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA in Albuquerque.
Any journalist looking for a storyline about "The Demolition Man" doesn't have to dig too deep. Overeem makes it easy. He can be polarizing and magnetic at the same time, if that makes any sense.
You know what else he is? Still one of the most talented heavyweights in the world. Still a legitimate title contender if he beats Rothwell on Friday night. Still a fighter you feel like you can't miss when he steps into the Octagon.
For for all the drama and all the setbacks, it almost seems like a long title run is still right around the corner for Overeem. His lone two losses in the last seven years really should have been wins. Overeem gassed against Travis Browne and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva in fights that he wasn't just winning, he was dominating.
Never a dull moment.
"You learn, you fall down, you get back up," Overeem said. "Looking at my career, it has been just that. I've had some huge smackdowns and always get back up. I'm not intending to stop there."
Overeem (37-13, 1 NC) says he's still gunning for a title shot, but you almost don't believe him. He's just so incredible nonchalant about everything. After beating Frank Mir at UFC 169 in February, Overeem called out Lesnar, a man who not only hasn't fought since 2011, but was knocked out in the first round in his final fight by -- you guessed it -- Overeem.
Alistair Overeem (left) was beating "Bigfoot" Silva last year before getting caught.
It's hard to get into Overeem's head. He's quite the enigma. But his prodigious talents make it all easy to overlook. Overeem is the best technical striker in the heavyweight division and possibly all of MMA with crushing power in his hands, shins and knees. He also has a very underrated ground game that he rarely shows off.
Physically, he's a nightmare matchup for anyone. Overeem is one of the few heavyweights in the UFC who would not be a massive underdog against champion Cain Velasquez.
And yet, you wonder if he has or will ever reach his considerable potential. Overeem was the Strikeforce champion and has won belts in other organizations. But one can't help but want -- even expect -- more from the massive man whose physique is more superhero than cagefighter.
It's clear Overeem has some regrets in his life. When asked about them Wednesday, he paused and thought about it for a few seconds. To no one's surprise, Overeem wasn't outward about any of it.
"I don't look back, because that's not where I'm going," Overeem said. "I look forward, because that's where I'm going. That's where my focus is at. I'm focused at the things coming and the things I need to do."
What's in the future? He's doing a movie in September and planning on spending time with his 8-year-old daughter in the fall. At some point, he'll find his way back to the gym and maybe he'll even fight again before the end of the year.
Between now and then, there will probably be eight different storylines having nothing to do with who he's fighting next. He dropped down to 248 pounds for the Rothwell fight for cardio purposes, but maybe he'll be back around 265 for his subsequent opponent. Who even knows what gym he'll be at?
Overeem doesn't seem too concerned with any of it. He won't call for a title shot if he beats Rothwell. Maybe he'll challenge Lesnar again. Whatever he says, it'll likely draw criticism to which Overeem will respond with an indifferent shrug.
Perhaps it's all one big troll job, like when he wrote on Twitter last week that he weighed 210 pounds. One thing is certain, whether that inevitable title run ever happens, Overeem isn't going anywhere any time soon.
Maybe.
"As long as my body is holding up," Overeem said, "why not?"
Don't even bother trying to figure it all out.
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