Alistair Overeem is focused on one thing heading into UFC 213: securing a championship rematch with Stipe Miocic.
A lot is on the line for Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum in their upcoming heavyweight trilogy bout at UFC 213 this weekend.
'The Reem' and 'Vai Cavalo' are hoping to secure a rematch with heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, who knocked out both men in title bouts at UFC 203 and UFC 198.
Overeem, who has since rebounded from that loss with a devastating KO over Mark Hunt, told MMA Junkie on Sunday that he's going to grab the mic and call out Miocic in the UFC 213 post-fight interview.
“After I get my hand raised, I’m going to grab that mic, and I’m going to challenge Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight championship belt,” Overeem said with confidence ahead of his rematch against Werdum."
“To me, the only thing that makes sense is fighting Stipe after this fight."
Overeem, who has been competing in MMA since 1999, is tied 1-1 with Werdum. 'The Demolition Man' lost via submission in their first encounter in 2006 but evened the score some five years later with a unanimous decision win in the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix tournament.
Overeem is impressed with Werdum's improvement over the years — the Brazilian went from being a one-dimensional grappler to one of the most well-rounded fighters in the division — but believes he is the more evolved fighter.
“You study, but those fights happened a long time ago,” the former K-1 world champion said. “Fabricio has done a remarkable job of improving himself since the first and the second fight. He’s constantly improving. That’s something you have to respect, like it or not.
“But, at the same time, we’re improving as well. I think analyzing is part of it, but also, self-improvement is part of it. You’ve got to keep working yourself.”
UFC 213, which also features a headlining women's bantamweight title bout between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko, takes place July 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
