Alistair Overeem planning for May 15 Strikeforce return against Brett Rogers
It only took two and a half years, but it looks as if Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem may finally be coming back to the San Jose-based fight promotion.
“Demolition Man” tweeted that he’s “probably” going to fight longtime nemesis Brett Rogers at the Showtime event planned for May 15 in St. Louis.
Overeem (32-11) was expected to return in 2009 until he suffered a hand injury from beating up rent-a-cops in Holland, effectively keeping himself from two of last year’s summer events.
During his absence, Rogers (10-1) floored one Russian and got knocked out by another.
But that didn’t keep him from calling out Overeem for his extended absence. While the pillar of Golden Glory racked up a 7-0-1 MMA record against lesser competition overseas, “The Grim” felt like his new and improved physique was to blame for his failure to appear stateside.
If you’re a title holder, I’m sorry man but you should be fighting at least a couple of times a year. No excuses. If you can’t get the job done then give it up. One, I say he’s ducking me. He knows I’m gonna get him. I could care less who he is. Two, I don’t think he can fight in the states right now. I don’t think you can get that big in such a small amount of time. I don’t know, who knows.”
Of course Overeem wasn’t going to just sit idly by while the former tire mechanic dragged his name through mud.
“I will not comment on [Brett Rogers], I am very busy with K-1 right now, with all the fight I have there. When there will be time to meet in the ring he will see. For now, I will not comment. I am very busy these days, I have a fight in Glory, then in DREAM.12 and after that I’ll fight in the K-1 Finals so I am very busy with training and fighting and I don’t have time for this bullshit.”
It’s going to be interesting to see what happens when these two mammoth strikers collide if they do in fact become official for the May 15 Showtime event, which is also expected to feature a heavyweight battle between Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Silva.
Stay tuned.