It wasn’t a crowd pleasing affair, but Alistair Overeem got the job done at UFC 169. The former Strikeforce heavyweight champion defeated Frank Mir by unanimous decision in what UFC president Dana White deemed a “crappy performance.” The “Reem” snapped his two-fight losing streak, but despite that victory, Friday’s UFC Fight Night matchup against Ben Rothwell could be a make-or-break fight for the 2010 K1 Grand Prix champion.
Let’s face it, the UFC’s heavyweight division has become a bit of an afterthought in 2014. The current champion Cain Velasquez hasn’t competed since last October due to injuries and filming duties for The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America. Former champion Junior dos Santos was slated to fight Stipe Miocic in Brazil this past May, but had to pull out due to injury. Miocic made quick work of Fabio Maldonado, not a natural heavyweight, but the win did very little for his stock in the division. Mark Hunt vs Roy Nelson takes place in Japan later this month, but for the most part the heavyweight division is wide open. This is why the 34-year-old Overeem is in an interesting spot.
When the UFC signed Overeem to a long-term deal in late 2011 it was assumed that he would get a heavyweight title shot at some point, however after beating Brock Lesnar in his UFC debut, things went downhill.
A failed pre-fight drug test before UFC 146 then back-to-back knockout losses to Antonio Silva and Travis Browne temporarily shattered those ambitions. The initial signing of Overeem was a big investment for the UFC and no doubt they’d like to see it turn into something significant.
When you consider the difficulties the UFC has had this year in building new superstars, they need a fighter like Overeem to shine. If the hulking knockout artist puts on a memorable performance Friday, like let’s say a devastating finish of Rothwell, Overeem could potentially earn a title shot in 2015. Velasquez is set to defend his heavyweight title against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 180 in November and if the champ retains his belt there’s no telling who the next challenger will be.
On the flipside, this is a risky fight for Overeem despite what the odds suggest. In the Mir fight, Overeem faced a competitor with just three career knockout victories and was known more for his superior ground game. He won’t have that same luxury against Rothwell, as the former IFL standout boasts 19 KO/TKO wins on his resume in 33 career fights. That’s a scary stat for Overeem, who has a questionable chin.
Another knockout loss, especially early in the fight, would deflate any hype surrounding Overeem and likely put an end to his title aspirations for good. Also, considering the price tag that comes along with his contract, another loss could result in him being released. Long story short: he’s in a tough spot.
Another interesting element is the fact that Overeem changed camps earlier this year. Going from the Blackzilians in Florida to the Jackson-Winkeljohn team in New Mexico was an intriguing move. Overeem is training with arguably the best team in his career and looks to be in the best shape too, slimming down considerably from when he made his promotional debut in 2011. Regardless of how Friday night’s heavyweight showdown in Connecticut goes down, this could be the bout that fans and pundits refer to as the “turnaround” fight for Overeem.
