Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum future fight?

[Shamrock-Ortiz]

http://mmajunkie.com/news/14557/alistair-overeem-vs-fabricio-werdum-is-a-direction-for-strikeforce.mma

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Following Saturday night's "Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz" event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., the organization began to create buzz for future events by tossing around a few potential bouts.

One potential matchup discussed at the evening's post-event press conference that created immediate buzz was the return of Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem (29-11) against UFC and PRIDE veteran Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1).

While Werdum wasn't announced as an official signing, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker suggested the bout was a strong possibility.

Overeem has fought twice for Strikeforce, defeating Vitor Belfort in 2006 as well as earning the organization's first heavyweight title by beating Paul Buentello in November 2007. The Dutch striker has yet to defend the title but has suggested in recent interviews he's intending to do so in June.

At Saturday's post-event press conference, Overeem was a bit less specific.

"I'm really excited to be back here in Strikeforce," Overeem said. "I had two great fights here, and I'm really looking forward to continuing my winning streak here. I'm looking forward to kicking some ass in the cage."

When asked by Coker if he had any specific opponents in mind, Overeem was reluctant to suggest any particular opponent.

"Any one of the top guys," Overeem said. "I don't care. Bring them on."

When Coker asked Overeem if there was anyone in the room who might like to face, Werdum stepped up to the stage. Speaking through an interpreter, Werdum said he would enjoy the opportunity to face "Demolition Man" a second time.

"I am very happy with the opportunity to be at Strikeforce," Werdum said. "It's going to be a real pleasure if the opportunity comes to fight Mr. Alistair Overeem. We fought two years ago, and if the opportunity comes I will be very happy to have the fight."

Werdum submitted Overeem with a kimura at a PRIDE event in May 2006. The Brazilian predicted a repeat performance should the two meet again.

"I'm going to take the other arm home," Werdum said. "And then the third time it's going to be hard to fight with no arms at all."

Coker told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Overeem's recent claims to the media of a June appearance were still a bit premature. Coker also insisted the Overeem vs. Werdum fight was not set in stone.

"It's a direction, but it's not finalized," Coker said. "I had no idea [Werdum] was going to come up (to the stage). It was kind of a random thing.

"I said, 'Hey, let's take the picture or something.' But it wasn't planned."

At least one person in the press conference disapproved of the potential contest. Undefeated heavyweight Brett Rogers (9-0), a TKO winner over Ron "Abongo" Humphrey on the main card of the evening's Showtime-televised event, suggested he might be a suitable opponent for Overeem as well.

"Before everybody walks away, I mean I wouldn't mind fighting Overeem," Rogers said. "That would be nice right there."

For complete coverage of the June event "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields," stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.


Either of these would eat Rogers up.

I think Overeem takes Werdum these days, he's improved a bunch since their last fight. He keeps the fight on the feet and knocks Werdum out.

Thoughts on how a possible rematch would go?

[yorT]

Yeah Overeem has been looking real good these days and I got him beating Werdum.

[FunkYou]

Overeem has looked decent but Fab-doom is still the favourite here surely? Or has his KO by Dos Santo dropped his stock that much.

[bbjd7]

Overeem gets tapped again.

He hasn't shown anything that makes me think he would keep the fight standing and while his stand up is nasty I think Werdum knows he's not a striker now and would get it to the ground where no one really has a good shot against Werdum especially not Overeem.

Btw this fight IMO is way better talent/skill wise then Lesnar vs Mir.

[MilesHackett]

Let's see if Alistair can pass a drug test in the US. Even if he does, Werdum beats him again IMO.

[bbjd7]

This is probably the worst guy in all of MMA for Alistair to face including Fedor.

Mostly because Werdum has no interest in striking, he should be able to get him down and on the ground it's a mismatch.

Fedor at least usually is willing to stand and strike with people and that gives Overeem a good shot at trying to hurt him (I don't think he would but he has a shot)

Werdum will be going for the takedown from the opening bell so unless Overeem has his TDD at a higher level he's in huge trouble.

[MilesHackett]

This is probably the worst guy in all of MMA for Alistair to face including Fedor.

Mostly because Werdum has no interest in striking, he should be able to get him down and on the ground it's a mismatch.

Fedor at least usually is willing to stand and strike with people and that gives Overeem a good shot at trying to hurt him (I don't think he would but he has a shot)

Werdum will be going for the takedown from the opening bell so unless Overeem has his TDD at a higher level he's in huge trouble.

Their last fight was strange because Werdum actually did really well standing with Overeem and Overeem swept Werdum to get back to his feet during a scramble lol.

[bbjd7]

It was yea Werdum's stand up isn't as horrible as people think it is because of the Dos Santos fight.

Werdum can throw good flurries and has a nice chin he just needs to be more cautious and not try to be a striker like he did against Junior.

[FunkYou]

The Dos Santo sight was pretty short and it was almost the first real exchange that landed Werdum on his ass. I don't know if he was necessarily trying to be a striker he just got caught attempoting one of those flurries you were talking about.

However with Overeem it would have to be a case fighting stupid if he even attempted this much stand up. The fight cannot hit the mat fast enough for Werdum here.

[bbjd7]

Nah he tried to throw a big punch not a flurry.

He was going for a knockout with his punches and that's not his style he just needs to use his flurries to keep him up and then get the takedown.

[Aaron]

Mostly because Werdum has no interest in striking,

http://i38.tinypic.com/246jdoj.jpg

really?

alistair is a new animal now. he should be able to keep it standing...from there he should overwhelm the smaller werdum

[FunkYou]

That gif hurts. Who told him that he should be looking at his own feet as he throws a punch?

[Aaron]

That gif hurts. Who told him that he should be looking at his own feet as he throws a punch?

alistair sees this tape and knows to pressure werdum standing....his defense looks aweful

[bbjd7]

IDK who told him he can throw an overhand right.

He used to use jabs and straights to keep guys away from him or to clinch against Junior he though he could strike.

I think getting put to sleep really woke Werdum up.

[Aaron]

I think getting put to sleep really woke Werdum up.

no, i think it was probably smelling salts that did that

[Suizida]

no, i think it was probably smelling salts that did that

lol, nice.
Gonna give it to Alistair though, he's just improved leaps in bounds, where Werdum has been rather inactive recently.

But if Werdum can put Alistair on his back then he can get the sub. Oh, and also he should shave the fat he put on for his last fight, he looked physically terrible

[KJ Brophy]

I am not sure who I would pick right now between Overeem or Werdum if they were to fight but I would probably lean towards Overeem.

If Rogers were to fight either one I'd probably pick Overeem and Werdum but wouldn't be surprised if Rogers put up a fight and if he knocked either guy out.

[Wise]

I cant see Werdum subbing out Overeem and Im leaning towards Alistair being able to keep it standing where he will beat up Werdum badly.

[XitUp]

I'd probably put my money on Overeem.

I like how many great heavyweight fights are posible outside the UFC.

[PirateNinja415]

I also like overeem in this fight as well. i can't see werdum taking this fight to the ground, his takedowns are sloppy and overeem is really solid in the clinch. he'll keep this standing and look for the ko

[bbjd7]

I cant see Werdum subbing out Overeem and Im leaning towards Alistair being able to keep it standing where he will beat up Werdum badly.
Really watch this :D
x6zzn4

[Wise]

That fight was 3 years ago and Alistair is much bigger and stronger then he was back then.

[Jack]

Btw this fight IMO is way better talent/skill wise then Lesnar vs Mir.

This is so true. The UFC's HW division is still pretty thin when you look closely at it, it's more interesting now yeah, but the talent's still not there IMO.

If Werdum goes all out for the TD then I don't think Overeems TDD is good enough to keep him off him and once it hits the mat it's a big mismatch.

Overeem's improved an awful lot so I wouldn't count him out but right now I'm leaning towards Werdum big time. I think the Dos Santos fight is still fresh in a lot of peoples minds so I'd be interested to see the odds if this takes place.

Man there's some awesome HW matchups out there right now.

I still can't believe the UFC let Werdum go TBH. Not sure if it's just the conspiracy theorist in me but I'm still convinced it's cos they wanted Werdum nowhere near Brock and it was easier to just cut him after a loss than him end up getting a shot at Lesnar cos then if he subbed him, their somewhat charasmatic, former WWE star, beast of a man cashcow gets replaced by a flabby brazilian dude. It's obvious who casual fans are gonna pay to see more.

[bbjd7]

Haha it was a joke lol. You couldn't see him tapping him so I showed it to you.

[MilesHackett]

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited that Alistair has found his niche at HW, but I think many people are too sold on him. His ground game is still average at best, a great submission specialist will beat him on the ground should the fight get there.

We also have to acknowledge that although Alistair has changed, so has Fabricio. He's a much better clinch fighter than he was the first time they met and he's also gotten bigger as well (too big in the dos Santos fight though).

[Shamrock-Ortiz]

I think these days Overeem is at the standard where it definitely wouldn't take him a round to finish Werdum while standing, though you never know.

I only see Werdum getting Overeem down if he tires later on in the fight, the fight won't go long enough for Overeem to tire IMO.

Alistair's a good wrestler, and probably even more so now with his increased size.

Werdum can trip him, but I don't think so, not before he gets KO'ed.

[plazzman]

Overeem actually looked pretty big in this fight, and Werdum looked in fantastic shape, what happened?

Anywho, I think Overeem could still etch out a TKO of some sorts. Don't get me wrong, I still like Werdum, and think he can still beat most HW's, but Overeem has become too strong, and too stocky to sub. Look at how long it took him to amount anything against the even then smaller Overeem. Plus he doesn't seem to be AS stupid as he used to be, but I can't tell too much from the Hunt/CC fights to make a good judgement and shall wait.

How can you go from finishing guys like Vera and GG, to being kicked out from 1 loss? Especially considering how thin the HW div. is. UFC, I swear they're retarded sometimes.

[Shamrock-Ortiz]

All about money though wasn't it.

His contract was up I believe and they couldn't agree on a new one. That's what I thought anyway, don't think it was a cut. They don't want to be paying someone money who quite frankly, will NEVER be a draw. Shame that it works like that, but it's a business at the end of the day:(

[KJ Brophy]

The reason why he got cut from the UFC is because he wouldn't take a paycut after he got KO'd by Dos Santos. I think it is stupid too but we have to live with it.

All about money though wasn't it.

His contract was up I believe and they couldn't agree on a new one. That's what I thought anyway, don't think it was a cut. They don't want to be paying someone money who quite frankly, will NEVER be a draw. Shame that it works like that, but it's a business at the end of the day:(

He had just signed a new one, the Dos Santos fight was the first one on his new one I believe

[Jack]

The reason why he got cut from the UFC is because he wouldn't take a paycut after he got KO'd by Dos Santos. I think it is stupid too but we have to live with it.



He had just signed a new one, the Dos Santos fight was the first one on his new one I believe

I thhink there was already a lot of bad feeling there cos he'd been promised a title shot and then got left out of the little four man HW tourney behind Brock.

Then after that they wanted im to take a pay cut. I'm still convinced Werdum was forced out of the UFC TBH.

[JT42]

Man when I first read this I about wet myself! I really didnt think Strikeforce would be able to put anyone top caliber in there with Overeem but this fight would be freakin sweet!

In fact I would even pay PPV price for an event with this as the headline and Cyborg/Carano and the co-main event. I really hope they are able to sign it