According to a new LA Times report, a heavyweight superfight between former UFC champion Brock Lesnar and former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem has been booked to headline the UFC’s end-of-year show, December 30th in Las Vegas. The winner of the five-round feature will likely be the next in line to challenge for the UFC heavyweight title against the winner of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos.
Overeem reportedly finalized his contract with the UFC earlier today. As he told the Times: ”Brock is a big name, a dangerous guy, and this is a dream matchup. Brock’s a big guy, an exciting wrestler with his takedowns. I want to see this fight myself. Overall, I’m a different fighter. A striker, athletic, big. These are going to be two big trucks going at it on a collision course.”
Added Lorenzo Fertitta: “Our thinking when we bought Strikeforce was to give fans the fights they want. Obviously, Alistair’s one of the best heavyweights in the world, but he also has that ‘it’ factor — the tremendous look, he’s huge. It’s a star factor.”
Overeem is coming off his decision win over Fabricio Werdum in June, while Lesnar has been inactive since his October 2010 TKO loss to Velasquez, due to the return of his diverticulitis.
The monster booking gives new perspective to Overeem’s recent Strikeforce “firing.” Was Zuffa angling to transfer him to their premier promotion all along? At any rate, he’s finally where he belongs, and we’re psyched to see what becomes of it. If you’ve got predictions for Lesnar vs. Overeem, let’s hear ‘em…
Update #1, via @arielhelwani: “According to @danawhite, the Overeem-Brock fight is on Friday because Saturday is New Year’s Eve.” Hmm, could this suggest a broadcast on FOX?
-Via Cage Potato
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