Alistair Overeem Is 'Very Excited' About UFC Purchasing Strikeforce

Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem is one of the fighters who could potentially be most affected by Zuffa’s purchase of the Strikeforce organization.

Though he is the company’s top fighter, he confessed in an interview with FanHouse’s Ariel Helwani that not only was he not told about the news prior to it happening, but that he didn’t even find out directly from a representative from either company.

"I was shocked when I read it, but I'm very excited," Overeem informed Helwani. “It was a very big surprise to me and to everybody. The gentlemen did a very good job of keeping the big secret. I didn't see it coming. I didn't see it coming at all."

There was growing concern within the fan community that this news may affect the ongoing Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament, but Overeem put that notion to rest, saying, “Everything is still on.”

But things will change under the ownership of Zuffa. One of the major changes includes Strikeforce adopting the unified rules of MMA that the UFC currently operates under. The biggest difference in the rule is that under the unified rules of MMA, elbow strikes to the head of a downed opponent will be allowed.

Overeem called the rule change, “a good thing, I guess,” but sounded a bit hesitant.

Despite being one of the world’s most powerful and dynamic heavyweight strikers, Overeem is smart enough to have seen fighters move from other rulebooks into the unified rules of MMA and struggle if they don’t adapt their game.

Still, the champion seemed to be very much behind the news.

“I'm a positive guy. I see things through a positive lens. It can be really, really the best thing [that] ever happened to the sport, if it's used positive, and I see that happening.”

Overeem has been traveling the world, fighting in Strikeforce, Dream and K-1, looking for competition. While doing so, “The Demolition Man” has won a title in each promotion. Perhaps Zuffa’s acquisition of Strikeforce will lead the way to more exciting heavyweight title fights.

“The fans are going to get to see the fights that are most appealing to them. I think this is what the sport needs to grow, because the sport has grown rapidly, but it's still not there yet,” Overeem prognosticated. “We want everybody worldwide to talk about these fights, like in the old days with Muhammad Ali and [Mike] Tyson, and we're not there yet. To get there, there's still some work to be done and I think [UFC President] Dana [White]'s working on that.”

The next time we will see Alistair Overeem in action will be in his first-round fight against Fabricio Werdum. The champion seems very focused on proving that he deserves to be in the conversation as the best heavyweight on the planet.

“For me, I'm a fighter. I want to show the fans exciting fights. I want to go for the knockout,” he maintained. “For me, I'm tied down in the Strikeforce Grand Prix. That is my objective for the moment. This is my time to show that I'm number one in this tournament.”

But this next fight against Werdum isn’t just about moving up the rankings. Overeem has a personal score to settle against a man who submitted him earlier in their careers.

Werdum has been telling anyone who will listen that he will again look to attack the arm and win the rematch by submission. Overeem doesn’t see it that way.

"He'll be unable to do that when he's sleeping on the mat with his face down," Overeem stated.

The fight will take place at and should be the main event of Strikeforce’s June 18 event in Dallas, TX.