Starting to the first professional floor since 1997, the Dutch veteran Alistair Overeem was one of the rare champions who had both MMA (Dream) and Kickboxing championship belt (K1) at the same time. Up to now, with more than 20 years of experience on the floor, reaching 40 years old with countless matches, both MMA and Kickboxing, Alistair Overeem knows that the day he has to leave the stage will not be far away.
However, with Alistair Overeem, the only goal that made him still attached to the UFC player was the Heavyweight championship belt. Still expecting a final stretching effort, winning 4 of the last 5 matches, having a series of 2 consecutive wins, Overeem will confront Alexander Volkov in the leading match of UFC Vegas 18 (UFC FN 184) on February 6.
“This match will bring a great advantage to the winner,” Overeem said. “Whether I am Volkov, we all have 2 consecutive wins. If we have the 3rd win, we will be quite close to a chance to compete.”
“For me personally, this will be my last stretching effort.
The oldest boxer ever played at UFC is also a familiar name in Heavyweight: Mark Hunt. Mark Hunt's final match at UFC took place in 2018, at that time Hunt was 44 years old, almost turned 45. Alistair Overeem clearly not intending to break the old friend's record, he was quite aware of his body condition.
“It's a bit sad to realize that, but my team and my family are very realistic when it comes to age issues. I will not stay at the ring until I am 45 years old. I hope that I can make every effort for the final struggle, thank you everyone for supporting in the past time, and see you again in my matches in the next life, because I will hang the gloves right after I will hang the glove.”