UFC Fight Night Rotterdam Main Event Preview

By JM “Shade” Daguio

UFC Fight Night will finally head to Rotterdam, The Netherlands where two of the most decorated heavyweights will face for the main event. Alistair Overeem maybe the most decorated heavyweight fighter in MMA today since he held belts in Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1 making him the only fighter to ever hold major MMA title and kickboxing title simultaneously.

As far as career goes, Overeem also had his sights on the UFC title after his debut with the promotion, Overeem fought former heavyweight champ and WWE superstar Brock Lesnar. The fight was one-sided in favor of Overeem, he dismantled Lesnar in the feet and eventually stopped the former champ with ease. If the fight against Lesnar was to be the indicator, Overeem would’ve had a great career, however that was not the case. Overeem lost 3 of his last 7 bouts, all in devastating fashion, the losses tossed Overeem out of the title equation and instead he fought the top 5 gatekeepers.

In Overeem’s recent outing he looked good, garnering 3 straight wins. His current opponent though is no slouch; former heavyweight champion Andre Arlovski.

Both fighters are excellent strikers, Overeem has very accurate punches and vicious kicks, Arlovski also has that nuclear bomb on his right hand and is very well rounded.

For Overeem to win, he must use his length and reach advantage to look at loopholes in Arlovski’s stand up, Arlovski tends to be careless with his punches sometimes he gets caught with counters and Overeem must exploit that, he should also pace himself since his previous losses clearly shows his habit of blowing his wad and ending up tired which gives his opponents their second wind to defeat him.

Opposite Alistair Overeem is Andre Arlovski, the former UFC heavyweight champion. Arlovski was a phenom and one of the most feared strikers ever set foot in the octagon, his victories most of the time ends with his opponents lying on the ground, unconscious, eyes rolled back and toes curled, that’s how dangerous Arlovski is. A few years back after Arlovski lost the title and got cut from the UFC, he lost 4 fights and looked like he was on the verge of retirement. Arlovski didn’t settle, he worked his way back into form, he racked up 6 wins and 4 more wins during his UFC return including the epic barnburner he had with perennial contender Travis Browne. Arlovski’s title hopes was temporarily cut short after he lost to title contender Stipe Miocic and will look to rebound against Overeem.

Arlovski’s keys to victory would be to stay in the pocket and close the distance to deny Overeem’s reach advantage, he should also use various kicks and knees to confuse Overeem, positional advantages such as scrambles and clinches will also be a factor because Arlovski may a have an advantage as to that aspect of the fight, Overeem will have a problem protecting his chin and using his size and length when Arlovski is in his face which would spell a lot of trouble for the Dutchman.

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