Alistair Overeem thinks everything is clicking the way it needs as he attempts to track down the UFC heavyweight title during the final chapter of his career.
Overeem (47-18 MMA, 12-7 UFC), who has won four of his past five bouts, gets a stern test in his next one as he meets Russian striker Alexander Volkov (32-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 184 main event, which takes place Feb. 6 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.
It’s a fight Overeem needs to win if he wants to complete his goal of adding the UFC heavyweight belt to a combat sports resume that includes titles in Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1. He was supposed to fight Volkov in April 2019 before it fell apart, but he’s glad it was rescheduled and feels very good about it working out in his favor.
“He’s definitely grew as a fighter, but I also grew as a fighter (since we were last booked),” Overeem told MMA Junkie. “I think I’m the most dangerous to fight right now. I’m in the peak performance I’ve ever been or am, so I’m just very excited the fight is happening now. Timing for me is perfect and it is.”
At 40, Overeem has proven over his recent stretch of fights that he remains elite. He’s No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie heavyweight rankings, and is scheduled to take on No. 7-ranked Volkov in a five-round headliner.
“He’s (good) all around,” Overeem said of Volkov. “He’s got kicks, he’s got hand strikes, he’s got ground, he’s got grappling. I think he’s dangerous everywhere. He’s got reach, so it’s going to be an interesting battle. But I feel very ready. Camp has been good. It’s going to be a good fight.”
Despite still going strong, Overeem has made it abundantly clear this is his last push toward the top. UFC Fight Night 184 represents the 94th bout of his combat sports career, and he’s not looking to do this forever.
He feels another chance at gold is well within reach, but wouldn’t say definitively if a setback against Volkov would cause him to throw in the towel, or if he would rebuild once more. What Overeem can say with certainty, though, is that he feels good about the position he’s in right now.
“There definitely is momentum because we’re two wins (in a row),” Overeem said. “I think my fights are good, they’re exciting. I think we’ve just got to keep this trajectory going and another title shot will be there, and that will be my last because my time is running out, which is fine. I’ve had a great career, I’m having a great career. But we also have to be realistic, and that’s a little bit where the final run comes from. I’m not going to keep fighting until I’m 45. It’s going to be one final run, then it’s going to be thank you everybody for watching, and see you in the next life.”
If Overeem gets his hands on a UFC belt, though, he said that’s going to be his final moment. He can’t predict if Stipe Miocic, Francis Ngannou or even Jon Jones will be the guy at the top of the mountain if that happens, but he does visualize the moment, and that would consist of holding the title above his head before laying the gloves down in the center of the cage and bidding the MMA world farewell.
“I would retire immediately (after winning the title),” Overeem said. “There’s nothing to prove at that point.”
Alistair Overeem at his ‘most dangerous’ for UFC Fight Night 184 headliner vs. Alexander Volkov
