Overeem sets his Sights for the U.S. & Cro Cop Seeks Retirement for 2009

According to Cage Potato, Alistair Overeem has stated that he wishes to fight in the US, either in the UFC or Affliction, and that he would be attending the UFC 93, Ireland.

Also according to Cage Potato, Mirko Filipovic has said he wishes to retire in 2009 and before doing so, have his farewell fight in the UFC.

After Overeems KO of Badr Hari within the first two minutes of round one it is hard to deny that Overeem is not a man deserving of respect, something he has been hammering very hard since his fight with Filipovic.

Ovreem has been tearing through his opponents since his move to heavyweight—a weight he seems to look more comfortable at.

If Overeem decides where to sign with either the UFC or Affliction it could add to some very interesting match ups for U.S. fight fans to watch.

The UFC would possibly benefit the most if they were to sign Overeem, it would give much more depth to the heavyweight division and would truly test heavyweight contenders.

Overeem could be the perfect test for either UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar or Frank Mir. Having Dutch trained kickboxing skills from the legendary Team Golden Glory in a massive hulking frame and potent jiu jitsu skills.

Overeem the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, and a Abu Dhabi European champ could test Mir's submission skills and his bulk could be a challenge to Lesnar who may not find himself to easy to muscle around.

Nevertheless, if Overeem were to join Affliction he would be joining an already deep stable of heavyweight fighters. With former Pride and World Sambo Champion Fedor Emelianenko holding the newly created WAMMA belt.

In different news Filipovic who is coming off a win against the 7-ft Hong Man Choi on New Years. Dynamite has publicly stated that he may be seeking retirement in 2009. Oddly enough Filipovic wishes to have his farewell match in the UFC, a place where he had little success and was KO'd by Gabriel Gonzaga.

Cro Cop states he will need knee surgery first before he begins fighting in '09 though, surely a result of his long K-1 and mma career.

Filipovic has shown recently that his body is slowing and that he has a tough time fighting with the top fighters of today resulting in him fighting cans and freak show matches.

In his last match against legitimate competition, Filipovic looked weak and slow until having his testicles kneed into his stomach by Overeem.

It should be interesting to see if either fighter signs with the UFC, several interesting fights could happen in the UFC.

Filipovic could possibly fight a farewell match against Overeem finally settling the bitterness between the two; even a match between Filipovic and Cheick Kongo would be interesting to see as well.

Kongo was the last person Filipovic officially lost to which came in the UFC after having his groin repeatedly mauled by Kongo.

Either way these interests show the increasing strength of the mma market in the U.S.; which not even 10 years was being overshadowed by the Japanese scene. It was however the purchase of the UFC by the Fertitas that changed it all around, and now the U.S. is dominating the market in attendance, ppv sales, and world wide popularity.