Overeem Unfazed By Potential Lesnar Return: ‘Who Cares About Brock’

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Alistair Overeem is preparing to fight streaking heavyweight contender Augusto Sakai tomorrow night (Sat., Sept. 5, 2020) at UFC Vegas 9 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the veteran fighter is still finding himself talking about former rival Brock Lesnar.

Overeem, who is clawing his way back into contention to lock down his second UFC title shot before his career comes to a close, is all too familiar with Lesnar. The two heavyweights clashed back at UFC 141 in Overeem’s promotional debut, with “The Reem” defeating Lesnar via first-round TKO. The loss sent Lesnar back to WWE and he didn’t return until UFC 200 nearly five years later.

Now that Lesnar is no longer under WWE contract rumors have begun to swirl about a possible return to the Octagon, including a superfight with Jon Jones. As someone who already fought Lesnar inside of the cage Overeem doesn’t believe the WWE superstar will return to MMA anytime soon.

“I don’t think he’s gonna come back,” Overeem told TMZ Sports. “He’s 43 years old. To be honest, I don’t think he’s gonna come back. The last time he came back, it was a debacle so I don’t think he’s gonna come back. I was wrong about the last time though, because I predicted the same thing. It actually did become a debacle, but we’ll see what happens.”

While UFC would likely book Jones to welcome Lesnar back to Octagon it makes just as much sense to schedule a rematch with Overeem. After all, “The Reem” is the last man to defeat Lesnar inside of the cage and a widely-known name in the UFC’s heavyweight division.

Unfortunately for fight fans, Overeem doesn’t seem too interested in a reboot with Brock.

“I beat him up,” Overeem said. “So if somebody wants a rematch, it would be him. I already did it. Why would I chase him? Who cares about Brock? Which fans? He’s not coming back. He’s 43 years old, he’s flunked tests, it’s over with him. He’s not coming back. Last time the waived the testing for him and still he got into trouble. It’s been a debacle. He’s not gonna come back. Listen, if he does, all hats off to him, but I don’t think he’s gonna come back.”

Overeem, 40, is looking to lock down his second-straight win at heavyweight after taking out Walt Harris via TKO this past May. The former Strikeforce champion is hoping to prove he’s still a growing fighter this weekend at UFC Vegas 9 and keep his momentum going as he navigates the tail end of his illustrious career.

“I think I’m the best that I ever was because I’m still learning, I’m still growing,” Overeem concluded. “But at the same time, I’m 40 years old. I still have a couple more fights but probably one, two, maybe three years and then I’m gonna call it quits.”

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