UFC on Fox 13: 5 Fights for Alistair Overeem
Alistair Overeem was able to get the job done Saturday at UFC on Fox 13. The former Strikeforce champion was in need of a win to avoid going 2-4 in the Octagon. His first-round TKO of Stefan Struve will keep him employed for the time being, but he still has a long way to go before receiving a shot at the UFC heavyweight strap. With that goal in mind, here is a look at five men whom Overeem could be paired with next.
Matt Mitrione
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Matt Mitrione continued his push up the heavyweight ladder with his first-round knockout of Gabriel Gonzaga. The former NFL player needed just under two minutes to put away Gonzaga and earn his third win of 2014. The UFC currently has Mitrione ranked in the No. 14 spot among all heavyweights, and his latest performance will potentially move him up a few slots.
Mitrione's brawling style would match well with Overeem's kickboxing tactics. This would not be an easy bout for Overeem, who has struggled as of late against men who are willing to exchange powerful punches. Mitrione fits right into that category.
Roy Nelson
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Roy Nelson has always been an interesting heavyweight. He has moments where he looks like he has the potential to go on a run within the UFC, but there are times he struggles against some of the best in the weight class.
Just like Overeem, Nelson has a strong base in grappling but would rather use his punches to put opponents away. This is the exact style of fight that would allow both him and Overeem to showcase their skills. With two heavy hitters such as these two men, it would be clear that this fight would not make it the entire 15 minutes.
Andrei Arlovski
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Pairing Andrei Arlovski against Overeem would be a match made right out of a time machine. The two men, who were prominent heavyweight fighters in the 2000s (although Overeem also fought some bouts at light heavyweight in that span), would finally have the opportunity to face off against one another. At this point, the two former champions may not be the fighters they once were, but they would still create an interesting fight within the heavyweight division.
Arlovski is on a two-fight winning streak since coming back to the UFC with wins over Brendan Schaub and Antonio Silva. The UFC currently has him sitting at No. 7 among all men in his weight class. A win for him over Overeem would either place him on the short list of title contenders for 2015 or give Overeem some momentum to build toward a title fight of his own.
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Josh Barnett
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Josh Barnett is another man who could be considered a part of the heavyweight division's “old guard.” The former UFC champion is still hanging around the top of the division and is currently in the No. 6 spot. Even though he is coming off a loss to Travis Browne, putting him against Overeem would be a big fight for both men in 2015.
Both Overeem and Barnett spent some time being two of the best heavyweights within the sport. Since they have fallen off quite a bit from those days, this fight would have some nostalgia value for longtime MMA fans. The question would be whether or not Overeem could avoid Barnett's submission-based attack and land key strikes to put away the War Master.
Alexey Oleinik
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The dark horse on this list, Alexey Oleinik made his presence known when he knocked out Jared Rosholt in November. He left Rosholt prone on the mat and earned his 50th win as a mixed martial artist and his second within the Octagon. While he may be a long distance away from title contention, pairing him against Overeem would test just how good the Moscow native truly is.
Oleinik's game emphasizes submissions, but his last victory proved he is willing to throw hard punches when needed. Overeem can play both of these games, and with the way he has performed under pressure as of late, it would be interesting to see if Oleinik can get a big win or if Overeem still has a bit of a run left in him.
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