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ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – APRIL 19, 2019: Dutch MMA fighter Alistair Overeem during a weigh-in before his fight against Alexei Oleinik (not in picture) at UFC Fight Night 149 in Yubileiny Sports Centre. Valery Sharifulin/TASS (Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images)
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ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – APRIL 19, 2019: Dutch MMA fighter Alistair Overeem during a weigh-in before his fight against Alexei Oleinik (not in picture) at UFC Fight Night 149 in Yubileiny Sports Centre. Valery Sharifulin/TASS (Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images)
Alistair Overeem has been in and around the title picture at heavyweight for a few years now. ‘The Reem’ is one of the most decorated fighters in the UFC and is extremely accomplished. He has been a champion at almost every organization he has been a part of. However, the UFC belt is something that has eluded him all his career.
Overeem is 40 and does not have much time left in the sport to become a champion. However, he has been awarded an excellent opportunity to cement his place as a top contender and get a title shot as soon as possible if he wins against Alexander Volkov.
Read: “It was a very bad decision by the referee”- Alistair Overeem demands a rematch
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Alistair Overeem set to take on Alexander Volkov
It was recently announced that ‘The Reem’ would take on Alexander Volkov in a five-round main event fight at UFC Fight Night on February 6.
The fight comes at an interesting time in the heavyweight division. Francis Ngannou has cemented his place as the number one contender. He will take on Stipe Miocic early next year, according to most reports.
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – MAY 16: Alistair Overeem (R) of the Netherlands fights Walt Harris (L) of the United States in their Heavyweight bout during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 16, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis will face off in a few weeks and the winner will most likely be next in line given they’re on a four-fight and three-fight win streak, respectively.
Overeem took on Miocic for the title back in 2016, where he was stopped in the first round. Since his loss, he has been working his way up to another title fight.
He is 4-1 in his last five fights. His only loss was against Jairzinho Rozenstruik in the last seconds of the last round. A win against Volkov would move him to 3-0 and in prime position for a title shot.
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Volkov, on the other hand, has never fought for a title. The closest he came was a number one contender fight against Derrick Lewis which he lost. ‘Drago’ is 2-1 in his last three fights. A win against Overeem would put him in an excellent position to fight for the title.
How do you think the title picture at heavyweight will play out? Will the winner of Lewis vs Blaydes face the winner of this fight for the next title shot after Ngannou? let us know in the comments below.
