Strikeforce: Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum, a Head-to-Toe Breakdown

It's about damn time, ladies and gentlemen.

The Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem is going to fight a top-10 heavyweight.

For years now, Alistair has been running through opponents and the hype surrounding him has been building. However, while he has managed to topple some solid fighters, he has not yet faced off against an elite member of his division.

Enter Fabricio Werdum.

Werdum is considered by many to be a top-five heavyweight. He already owns a victory over Overeem, having defeated him by submission back in 2006.

Fabricio is also the first man to legitimately defeat Fedor Emelianenko and has a victory over the only other man to legitimately defeat Fedor, Antonio Silva.

This is a big test for Overeem, but if he passes it, he will finally prove to the world that he is an elite heavyweight.

Does Alistair have what it takes to avenge his loss to Fabricio?

Let's take a look...

Experience

Both of these men have faced off against a lot of high-profile opponents, but I think Alistair will have the experience advantage.

'Reem has been in more than twice as many fights as Werdum and has dealt with the pressure of a championship fight before, as well as the pressure of defending his championship.

Alistair has also faced more elite opponents than Werdum (granted, he lost to most of them).

The only experience Fabricio has that Alistair doesn't is fights in the UFC. Since this fight isn't in the UFC, that's not really relevant.

Edge: Alistair Overeem

Cardio

This pick is slightly speculative, but I'm picking Werdum to have to better cardio.

The more muscle a fighter has, the quicker their body develops lactic acid.

Fabricio is toned, but not freakishly muscular and weighs in comfortable at about 240 lbs.

Overeem is freakishly muscular and cuts to make 265 lbs. The fact that he hasn't been out of the first round in four years doesn't do him any favors either.

Advantage: Fabricio Werdum

Striking

This one is no-brainer.

Werdum has respectable striking, but it's no match for Alistair Overeem.

'Reem has been working hard on his striking for some time now. It became evident just how much he has improved when he won the K-1 2010 World Grand Prix.

If Fabricio can't get this fight to the ground quickly, he is going to be in a lot of trouble.

Advantage: Overeem

Chin

Werdum has only been knocked out only once in his career, and you can't really blame him for it. Fabricio got tagged with an epic uppercut by Junior dos Santos. That uppercut would have knocked out God.

Alistair has lost by knock out six times in his career, which accounts for more than half his losses.

Advantage: Fabricio Werdum

Grappling

This one is really tough to call.

On paper, Werdum is the better grappler. His submission grappling crendentials outside of MMA far exceed those of Alistair.

However, Alistair is much larger than Fabricio and is for sure going to have a strength advantage.

Also, Werdum's takedowns are different than that of a wrestler. If he wants to take Overeem down he is going to have to tie up with him. Overeem has devastating knees from the clinch, so that might be an inadvisable tactic for Fabricio.

If Werdm does clinch Alistair, he is going to need to hit a throw or a trip quickly and get the fight to the ground. Otherwise, he will be in serious danger.

It's close but...

Advantage: Fabricio Werdum

Submissions

Werdum already owns a victory over Alistair by submission, so it's pretty clear who has the advantage here.

Both men are very talented submission artists and both of them have had most of their wins come by submission, but Fabricio is head and shoulders above Overeem.

Although, it is significant that when Fabricio submitted Alistair, it was before Alistair had bulked up into the hugely muscular man he is today.

Werdum caught Overeem in a kimura, which is a strength move. If you watched the fight between Dan Hardy and Anthony Johnson, then you saw Hardy lock up a kimura several times in that fight, but couldn't pull that arm out because Johnson was too strong.

If Werdum catches a submission, given how much stronger Alistair is now, I don't think it will be a kimura.

Advantage: Fabricio Werdum

Winner?

You may have noticed that Werdum has the advantage in more categories than Overeem, but don't take that to mean that he will win this fight.

Many of Fabricio's advantages are slight, while the advantages that Alistair has are huge. Namely, his size and his striking.

I really think that Overeem is too big and too technical a striker for Werdum.

If Alistair fights carefully and makes sure not to chance Werdum to the ground, this should be his fight.

I think Werdum's best chance is to weather the early storm and hope Alistair tires himself out a bit, but I think he'll be finished before that can happen.

It should also be noted that Werdum hasn't fought in a year, so ring rust could be a factor for him.

Winner: Alistair Overeem via second-round TKO