UFC
Alistair Overeem wants the biggest fights in the UFC, starting with Brock Lesnar
Nov 25, 2011 - 7:55:21 PM Alistair Overeem wants the biggest fights in the UFC, starting with Brock Lesnar

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Alistair Overeem makes his UFC debut in December in an excellent heavyweight fight with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion and K-1 Grand Prix kickboxing champion has emerged over the last couple of years as a rising force in the division, so much so that he could have entered the UFC with a title fight immediately.

"I didn't need to fight Lesnar," Overeem wrote in a blog at Yahoo! Sports. "When I signed for the UFC, Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta offered me the winner of the title fight between Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez. But I am a fighter. I don't want to sit on the sidelines, I want to fight."

"I think I have earned a UFC world title fight, by winning every major title outside the UFC, but I am here to prove that I am – without question – the best heavyweight on the planet. You don't do that sitting on the sidelines or working out in the gym, you do that by fighting and beating the best available opposition in the biggest fights that can be made."

"Myself vs. Lesnar is a huge fight and I jumped at the chance to fight him."

Many don't see Lesnar as a threat in the division anymore after a battle with diverticulitis and a less than ideal reaction to getting hit in his last several fights. But while Overeem himself is very confident in what he's going to do against Lesnar, he knows Lesnar is not to be taken lightly.

"But I don't underestimate this man," Overeem said. "Winning UFC belt from Randy Couture in his fourth pro MMA fight and defending it against Frank Mir and Shane Carwin was very impressive. I am also impressed by Lesnar's fighting spirit; he has twice come back from a very serious illness and fought very tough opposition right away."

"He obviously has a lot of confidence in himself in fighting me after more than a year out and surgery on his stomach, and I admire that about him, but I am even more confident in myself. I will knock this guy out. He is great at takedowns and controlling people on the ground, but I can stop his takedowns and he is no match for me on the feet."

"I am going to rip Brock Lesnar apart, piece by piece."

Penick's Analysis: Overeem wanting to stay active and taking what is, despite the thoughts of some people, a very tough challenge in Lesnar is admirable. When he could have gotten the immediate title shot, he's not taking an easy route with this fight, and even though he thinks he's going to "rip Lesnar apart," he's got a difficult fight here. Taking on that challenge and truly setting out to prove himself as the best is going to be the best way to introduce himself to the UFC audience.