UFC
Dana White confirms contract negotiations between the UFC and Alistair Overeem
Aug 26, 2011 - 1:05:25 PM Dana White confirms contract negotiations between the UFC and Alistair Overeem

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem is indeed negotiating with the UFC, as UFC President Dana White confirmed the talks in an interview with Dan LeBetard on ESPN's Sports Talk 790 on Thursday.

"We're talking to Overeem," White said (transcribed by MMAMania.com). "When everything fell apart, you guys heard me come out and say, 'We can't do business with these guys the way these guys want to do business,' meaning his management. Well they've changed their opinions on how they can do business with us, so now we can."

White is, of course, talking about the breakdown in talks with Golden Glory, which subsequently led to the release of Marloes Coenen, Valentijn Overeem and Jon Olav Einemo from Zuffa-owned promotions. However, Overeem was never released as had initially been reported, and was in an exclusive negotiating period with the UFC after the final fight on his Strikeforce deal was expedited when he refused a semifinal Heavyweight Grand Prix fight on Sept. 10.

With Golden Glory going back on the issue of Zuffa paying fighters directly, as White claimed was the initial hang up, both sides expressed interest in talking with one another. Now that appears to be what they are doing.

Penick's Analysis: I think we'll see Alistair Overeem in the UFC either by the end of this year or the beginning of 2012. If they can come to an agreement on compensation there's very few reasons why Overeem shouldn't be in the organization, and it makes the most sense for him to be plugged in against a top opponent in the Octagon. Hopefully they can flesh things out in negotiations and make this a reality, but at least they are definitely talking at the moment to begin that process.