Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Will Alistair Overeem's training camp distractions have a negative effect on his performance against Brock Lesnar at UFC 141?
Dec 24, 2011 - 7:35:27 PM ROUNDTABLE: Will Alistair Overeem's training camp distractions have a negative effect on his performance against Brock Lesnar at UFC 141?

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Do you believe Alistair Overeem's distractions in training - from his mother's illness to his return to Holland as well as his multiple drug tests with the NSAC - will have a negative effect on his performance against Brock Lesnar?

ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I do believe that Overeem's recent issues have definitely had a negative effect on his training for Brock Lesnar. Additionally, his recent comments about looking forward to facing Junior dos Santos afterwards has got to be a facade to the fact that Overeem is probably not going to be 100% mentally focused going into the fight.  This is Lesnar's fight to win because Overeem doesn't seem focused on Lesnar, and what's going to happen is Lesnar is going to show Overeem why he should have focused on Lesnar and Lesnar alone.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR



Well, I think this stuff either wrecks Overeem or it galvanizes him. It's hard to predict how people will respond to this kind of pressure, but I would imagine that Overeem is finding sanctuary in training. However, I think that Overeem comes out too hyped up and gasses out, allowing Brock to capitalize and get the decision win.


ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR



No, I think Overeem wins by KO in the second round. His kickboxing will be too much for Lesnar's one-dimensional game.  Overeem's game is just too tough for Lesnar to handle.  His training obstacles will not sway his victory at UFC 141. Cain Velasquez and Shane Carwin both exposed Brock Lesnar's weak chin. Overeem has the best kickboxing in the heavyweight division and it will seal his victory in this bout.



ALEX WILLIAMS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR


Sure, the distractions will probably have a negative effect, but it could be a tiny one.  That is, will the distractions account for a meaningful percent of how well Overeem does in the fight?  I doubt it, but that's total speculation.


JAMIE PENICK, MMATORCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It's impossible for Overeem to be 100% focused on the task at hand with all that's been going on with this camp, but that doesn't mean he won't be effective or that it will be too much for him to handle. He's a professional, he's getting himself ready for this fight, and he'll be as prepared for Lesnar as he can be, all things considered. It's going to still come down to his ability to either stop Lesnar's takedowns, or land the strikes to hurt Lesnar before the takedown comes. The only way the distractions have a negative effect will be if they affected his ability to train for those challenges.

[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]