Alistair Overeem wants to show himself to the Dutch public for another year in the fall of his career. The 42-year-old martial arts icon will make his debut against Badr Hari at the GLORY kickboxing association on October 8 and has high expectations.
With his move to GLORY, Overeem returns to the world of kickboxers. He has caused a stir in the sport in the past, and subsequently has been a UFC fighter in the United States for the past ten years. It was a good time, he says, but he missed the food, mentality and nature of Holland.
“It’s good to be back in Holland. Now I’m enjoying it a lot more. I’ve spent ten years in America and come back every now and then, but I still miss Holland,” Overeem told NU.nl.
The son of a Jamaican father and Dutch mother aims to make a short but powerful comeback in kickboxing for his fans. The winner of the duel between Overeem and Hari is almost certainly waiting for the title fight with world champion Rico Verhoeven.
“This will be an important match in terms of Badr’s prestige, for me and Rico. We are now in a triangle. Rico has the title and that’s good for him, but I don’t think long. He’s going to lose. He-she.”
‘Maybe my injury is good’
Overeem will actually make his GLORY debut in October of last year with a title fight against Verhoeven. It didn’t happen because he was hit in the back. He no longer suffers from it.
“Maybe the injury was good, because it made me stronger and fitter and I spent more time on kickboxing,” said the experienced Dutchman. He doesn’t mind that he’s now meeting Harry instead of Verhoeven. “Rico will come next,” he says confidently. “I love it.”
He certainly doesn’t underestimate Harry. “He’s smart, he hits and kicks really hard and is a huge talent. I don’t have to talk much about it. I’ve been training for about thirty years, so I can analyze him very well.”
Alistair Overeem has made a name for himself as a UFC fighter in recent years. There was no address.
Alistair Overeem has made a name for himself as a UFC fighter in recent years. There was no address.
picture: AP
Overeem wants to become a coach after a career
And when will Overeem’s martial arts career end soon? “My next step will be to pass on my knowledge to the next generation. I have had the opportunity to train, learn and gain knowledge all over the world for thirty years,” he says of his intention to become a coach.
“During my injury I was sitting at home on the sofa and I didn’t like it, sitting still just isn’t right for me. I’m a person who has to go out. I started teaching at that time. I get a lot of pleasure and satisfaction from who-that.”
Returning or extending his senior sports career after his first year with GLORY is out of the question. “This is my last year. I want to fight Badr and Rico and maybe finish against someone else. Then I stop. Then I complete 25.”
The fight between Overeem and Hari is part of the COLLISION 4 event, which will take place on October 8 at GelreDome in Arnhem. The two met once in 2008 and 2009 at K-1 and each won once.
