Economics at heart of Overeem's Strikeforce delay |
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ThaAxeMurderer7
MMA Sensei
Career record: 768-498
Season: 15-9 (#1167)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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Hardcore American MMA fans have torn out a lot of hair over Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem’s stateside absence.
It’s been over two years since the Dutch fighter triumphed over Paul Buentello to win the first Strikeforce heavyweight strap at “Four Men Enter, One Man Survives,” an abrupt turnaround to a 1-4 slide near the end of Pride Fighting Championships.
In January, the promotion secured Overeem to a one-year, three-fight deal, obligating him to a return in lieu of an informal talent-sharing agreement with K-1 that saw him snag the title in November 2007.
Overeem, who was forced to pull out of two scheduled Strikeforce events in June and August with a serious hand injury, is scheduled to appear against Kazuyuki Fujita at K-1 Dynamite on New Year's Eve - his fifth K-1 fight in 2009 – and is planning a sixth in late March/early April 2010.
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Post #1 12/24/09 4:32:43AM
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cmill21
Heavyweight Champ
Career record: 369-196
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Regina SK
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I don't buy it for a second.
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Post #2 12/24/09 5:31:26AM
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DCRage
Representin' The MA's
Career record: 453-339
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Maryland
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Strip him already, Coker.
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Post #3 12/24/09 7:34:14AM
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MODulation
Career record: 953-574
Season: 19-5 (#434)
Location: Portlandia
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Pretty much exactly what I was saying the other day on a Overeem thread.
I think they should strip him, but you can't blame a fighter for fighting where he makes the most money.
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Flame Not, Lest Ye Be Flamed Yourself.
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Post #4 12/24/09 10:04:34AM
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Buy the ticket, take the ride
Career record: 906-512
Season: 17-7 (#920)
Location: My big ass bed
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It still doesn't explain why he pulled out of the Arlovski fight on new year and why he hasn't defended the title once since winning it.
Yeah the money might be better and I don't begrudge him that but he wasn't fighting in K-1 until almost 10 months after winning the title and pulling out of fights with top ranked competition is losing him more fans than he's gaining here in Europe.
Strikeforce should have stripped him long ago and the fact that they haven't is embarrassing for him and the company. I seriously doubt he'll fight in the U.S any time in the next 8 months and if it comes to it I doubt he'll be granted a licence.
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"RIP Evan Tanner, a real life trail blazer."
I was born to lead, not to read!!!!
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Post #5 12/24/09 12:09:45PM
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karn501
In Full Mount
Career record: 97-69
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: webbers falls oklahoma
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he's scared
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Post #6 12/24/09 1:22:19PM
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EliasG
In Full Mount
Career record: 138-103
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Colton
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Posted by cmill21
I don't buy it for a second.
Overeem's bank account disagrees with you.
I fully understand that there is this purist strand that runs through MMA that says you must fight the best competition and then there is an American thread that says--you must fight in America.
I get that. I also think that from a fighter's perspective it's dumb. If you are fighting JUST to find tough opponents--that's cool. K-1 is one type of fighting though and as Alistair said, it's easier for him--fewer injuries--more money.
It's really a no brainer---unless you are a true PURIST. If you are that's awesome, I applaud you as a fighter and like you. But athletes have a short shelf life and fans themselves are EXTREMELY FICKLE. You could fight your heart out, fight only the best competition, lose a few too many times and fans will drop you like a bad habit. They'll boo you at your next fight if they aren't 'entertained' and your money making potential will drop. It's a harsh world, the fighter has to look out for their OWN intersts. NO ONE ELSE IS.
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Post #7 12/24/09 2:27:29PM
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MODesty
Career record: 988-521
Season: 19-5 (#358)
Location: Oklahoma
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If he is making more money fighting in K-1 fights that's great. But What I don't understand is why is he still fighting in Dream then? You cant tell me he is making huge money in Dream. I also don't buy for a second that he is making huge money fighting guys like Tony Sylvester, Gary Goodridge, and James Thompson. So he can find time for these type of fights between K-1 Kick boxing but cant find time to defend his belt. I just cant buy into his mangers reasoning.
Last edited 12/24/09 3:40PM by telnights
Edit note/reason: n/a
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MMA Playground Mod
Telnights
MMAplayground Rules
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Post #8 12/24/09 3:39:08PM
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Jesse_Canadian_MMA
Belt Contender
Career record: 799-557
Season: 7-5 (#2072)
Location: Windsor Ontario
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just give it to Fedor already lol
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Post #9 12/24/09 3:59:23PM
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Combat Sport and Fitness
Career record: 375-265
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Mean streets of Enumclaw, WA
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Hes a great fighter but i think hes a little overated. Fedor would smash him. i say get his a** back in the U.S. to fight Fedor or strip his belt. make overeem another notch on Fedors club. ill watch him fight MMA or K-1 doesnt matter to me but im tired of seeing him fight nobody's and has-been's in MMA.
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Post #10 12/24/09 4:32:29PM
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cmill21
Heavyweight Champ
Career record: 369-196
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Regina SK
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I don't doubt he makes more money in Japan, but I don't think thats why he doesn't fight in the US.
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Post #11 12/24/09 5:07:04PM
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EvenFlow
banned
Career record: 221-126
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Somewhere Between Heaven & Hell
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Posted by cmill21
I don't doubt he makes more money in Japan, but I don't think thats why he doesn't fight in the US.
Especially when he's never denied it, he must have 50 pound traps.
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Post #12 12/24/09 5:34:07PM
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cmill21
Heavyweight Champ
Career record: 369-196
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Regina SK
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Never, even when Remy called him out at a presser. I don't think anyone is under the impression he's not using something anymore.
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Post #13 12/24/09 6:15:12PM
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EliasG
In Full Mount
Career record: 138-103
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Colton
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Posted by tcunningham
Hes a great fighter but i think hes a little overated. Fedor would smash him. i say get his a** back in the U.S. to fight Fedor or strip his belt. make overeem another notch on Fedors club. ill watch him fight MMA or K-1 doesnt matter to me but im tired of seeing him fight nobody's and has-been's in MMA.
But don't you think that's the point? I mean you are literally saying let that guy get whooped so he can get exposed for the bum he is. maybe he knows he isn't the best thing since Fedor and Chris Cyborg had a baby but he also knows that if he does get whooped his luster dims. People can't knock what hasn't happened---they can only put his name in their mouth for good or bad. And bad publicity is still publicity. Money is still money. And he is getting paid for fighting lesser comp.
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Post #14 12/25/09 12:38:43AM
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prozacnation1978
Heavyweight Champ
Career record: 993-519
Season: 20-4 (#43)
Location: san diego
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two years and no strip already
where is frank mir's voice when u need it
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Post #15 12/25/09 10:11:58AM
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