Alistair Overeem

Alistair Overeem is a Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer bon on the 17th of May 1980. He is the former Strikeforce, Dream and K-1 world champion. He is one of the most decorated martial artists in the world and holds wins over multiple UFC champions in multiple weight classes.

He has a blue belt in BJJ and green belt in Judo. He currently competes in the heavyweight division but competed at light heavyweight in his younger days.

Alistair Overeem was born in England to a Jamaican father and Dutch mother. At 6 years old he moved with his mother and brother to the Netherlands. As a child he competed in judo, track and field and basketball.

Alistair Overeem – Photo by Patrick Jenkinson/MMAnytt

At 15 his older brother took him to an MMA gym, Alistair didn’t like it at first but dedicated to the sport fully after meeting Bas “El Guapo” Rutten and Joop Kasteel.

Alistair Overeem’s career before the UFC

Alistair Overeem made his MMA debut in 1999 against Ricardo Fyeet. Overeem defeated Fyeet by submission. He lost his next fight only 4 days later by majority decision.

He went 9-2 in his next 11 bouts before he made his PRIDE FC debut. He made his debut against Yusuke Imamura and destroyed him by TKO in the first minute. He won 5 more fights before he faced off with UFC champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and lost by KO in the first round.

Alistair Overeem – Photo by MMAnytt

Overeem rebounded with 3 wins before he lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by decision. He once again rebounded and defeated Vitor Belfort by guilliotine choke, his speciality. After submitting Igor Vovchanchyn he lost by TKO to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Overeem had 20 more fights in various promotions like Strikeforce and Dream, where he became their heavyweight champion. It was during this time that he also won the K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix. In this run he defeated fighters like Mark Hunt, Fabricio Werdum and Paul Buentello.

Alistair Overeem’s career in the UFC

Alistair Overeem made his UFC debut at UFC 141 against former champion Brock Lesnar. Overeem smashed Lesnar in the first round.

Alistair Overeem and Antonio Silva – Photo by MMAnytt

He lost his next two fights against Antonio Silva and Travis Browne by knockout. Overeem rebounded with 4 straight wins against tough competition like Roy Nelson, Junior dos Santos and Andrei Arlovski. The winstreak gave him a chance to compete for the UFC heavyweight title.

Alistair Overeem vs. Stipe Miocic

Alistair Overeem faced heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem. The fight was competitive and Overeem even knocked down the champion. In the end Overeem lost by knockout in the first round.

Since the title loss Overeem has won two straight against Mark Hunt and Fabricio Werdum. His winning streak was halted by Cameroonian sensation Francis Ngannou, who defeated Overeem by knockout early in the first round.