UFC 209: Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson 2Mar 3, 2017 by FloCombat Staff
Video: Alistair Overeem Eager To Cut Negativity, Bring The Heat At UFC 209
Video: Alistair Overeem Eager To Cut Negativity, Bring The Heat At UFC 209
Alistair Overeem is ready to bring the heat to Mark Hunt Saturday at UFC 209.
UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem is ready to scrap at UFC 209.
While much of the attention pre-fight centers around his opponent, Mark Hunt, and his longstanding beef with the UFC and the overall issue of performance-enhancing drugs in MMA, Overeem remains calm and confident ahead of Saturday's showdown.
"There's a lot of things said and done," he said. "I just like to keep things positive, focus on myself. I'm very happy to be here, very happy to fight this Saturday, I'm very ready. We have a very good plan. We actually have several plans, and I can't wait to get it on."
Asked if he was surprised by all the attention Hunt is receiving ahead of the bout, Overeem cut it straight.
"I've had so many fights, 87 fights," he said. "To me, it's all good. I have more attention, I have less attention, it's all good. I'm just going to do my thing on Saturday, come out on top, celebrate, have some time off in Miami—I'm looking forward to that—and don't get tied up in too much negativity. That's my main goal."
A famously personable figure in this sport, Hunt is quick to bring a smile and a handshake to his pre-fight interactions. As such, he's earned a reputation as one of the friendliest guys in the heavyweight division. Does Overeem agree with this sentiment? Not really.
"I don't have a problem with fighting friend or foe. Is he friendly? I don't know. We've met backstage, he's OK. He's an OK guy. Is he my friend? No. I never called him. We never text."
While much of the attention pre-fight centers around his opponent, Mark Hunt, and his longstanding beef with the UFC and the overall issue of performance-enhancing drugs in MMA, Overeem remains calm and confident ahead of Saturday's showdown.
"There's a lot of things said and done," he said. "I just like to keep things positive, focus on myself. I'm very happy to be here, very happy to fight this Saturday, I'm very ready. We have a very good plan. We actually have several plans, and I can't wait to get it on."
Asked if he was surprised by all the attention Hunt is receiving ahead of the bout, Overeem cut it straight.
"I've had so many fights, 87 fights," he said. "To me, it's all good. I have more attention, I have less attention, it's all good. I'm just going to do my thing on Saturday, come out on top, celebrate, have some time off in Miami—I'm looking forward to that—and don't get tied up in too much negativity. That's my main goal."
A famously personable figure in this sport, Hunt is quick to bring a smile and a handshake to his pre-fight interactions. As such, he's earned a reputation as one of the friendliest guys in the heavyweight division. Does Overeem agree with this sentiment? Not really.
"I don't have a problem with fighting friend or foe. Is he friendly? I don't know. We've met backstage, he's OK. He's an OK guy. Is he my friend? No. I never called him. We never text."