UFC
Alistair Overeem shifts training camp for Brock Lesnar back to Holland to tend to ailing mother
Dec 3, 2011 - 2:30:17 PM Alistair Overeem shifts training camp for Brock Lesnar back to Holland to tend to ailing mother

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Alistair Overeem's departure from Golden Glory and move to Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas was a big shift for the Dutch heavyweight ahead of his fight with Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in December. His already stellar kickboxing game would be supplemented with steady dose of wrestling to prepare for what Lesnar will attack him with in the fight, but now he's had to shift again.

In a new blog at Yahoo! Sports, Overeem revealed that he has returned to Holland in the middle of camp.

"I am now training for Lesnar in Holland," Overeem wrote. "I flew back about a week ago. I don't want to go too deep into personal matters, but what happened was my mother is recovering from cancer and needs my support. She needs me in Holland over the next couple of weeks and I came back for her."

It's an admirable and entirely understandable move, and Overeem assures that it won't take his attention entirely away from the task at hand.

"What I can say is that going back to Holland to be with my mother won't be a distraction; it is actually stopping me from getting distracted," Overeem said. "If I stayed in Las Vegas Vegas for this camp I would be constantly worried about her and my focus would have been compromised. Now I can train 100 percent, and know she's just across town."

Penick's Analysis: With all sincerity I hope Overeem's mother will be alright, and it's great that he's able to make this transition back to be around her at this time. Looking at the fight aspect of the move, I hope it can be something that's not a distraction and he can still be the completely prepared on December 30. As a fan looking at this fight, I just want to see both Lesnar and Overeem as the best possible versions of themselves when they step in the cage at UFC 141. We'll see on that day whether or not the added time with Xtreme Couture could have been better for him, but regardless of how it affects his performance on that night, he made the right move in going home for his family.