Father Time Takes Two
By Eddie Sanchez
The saying is as old as time itself, but remains true nonetheless – Father Time Remains Undefeated.
Two MMA legends were just released by the UFC: Alistair Overeem (47-19-1 NC) and Junior Dos Santos (21-9). The two bad-asses are likely Hall of Fame locks and carry lasting legacies from the fight game.
Dos Santos will forever be recognized as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and Overeem will forever be recognized as a former DREAM, Strikeforce and K-1 World Grand Prix Champion.
At the time of their release, Overeem held the #7 Heavyweight ranking to Dos Santos’ #12 standing. The two men, even at their advanced age, can still compete at the highest levels and there is sure to be interest from other promotions.
Given Alistair Overeem’s strong ties to the Asian community from his time with DREAM, an option like RIZIN has already been mentioned.
“I think Alistair has taken a tremendous role in building the sport both here in Japan, and all over the world,” RIZIN boss, Sakakibara told Tom Taylor. “I remember going to Holland to sign Valentijn Overeem, and saw a 17 year old Alistair in the gym and decided to sign him on the spot.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe he made his professional debut in Japan at the Korakuen Hall under THE BEST promotion, in a hexagon ring, against Takada Dojo’s Imamura,” Sakakibara continued.
“Crazy matchmaking now that I think of it, but that’s where his career started. He was still a skinny kid. But I still remember that impact when I first saw him at the gym in Holland. With that being said, I do have a soft spot for Alistair and if he desires, I think it would make sense for him to retire in Japan.” the RIZIN boss continued.
These are strong words of confidence from the head of RIZIN, and if Overeem desires, he will have the opportunity to compete.
If the Japanese-based promotion doesn’t tickle his fancy, there are other options like Bellator MMA, ONE Championship and PFL that could spark his interest. Personally, I would love to see Overeem join Bellator MMA.
The current Heavyweight Champion for Bellator MMA is ex-UFC fighter Ryan Bader, who recently lost his champ-champ status. He was unsuccessful in his last Light Heavyweight title defense to Vadim Nemkov, last August.
Perhaps I am being overly optimistic and sharing bias towards the future Hall of Famer, but I have full confidence that Overeem can handle Bader. Regardless, it would be a great sight to see him compete for one final title before he walks away for good.
As for Junior Dos Santos, things aren’t looking so great. While Overeem is (4-2) in his last six bouts, Dos Santos has lost his last four fights by TKO. It is fair to point out that his last four losses have come against the currently ranked #1, 3, 4 & 6 Heavyweights in the UFC, so there is some level of optimism that he can hang with other promotional mainstays.
What makes Dos Santos’ release disappointing is the fact that he was released shortly after turning down a return for UFC 260. Junior was offered #15 ranked Marcin Tybura, but turned down the opportunity citing a lack of time necessary to adequately prepare.
Shortly after those conversations, he was informed of his release. As they say, this is how the cookie crumbles.
Regarding his next steps, I would like to see him stay state-side. The fight schedule of the PFL might be too intense for the 37 year old, but if he is up for one last run at activity, this would be a nice spot for him. Alternatively, a stop with Bellator MMA would be a nice set-up as well. There are some intriguing opportunities for him to cash-in and it’s clear he still carries the competitive juices necessary to make an impact.
These are sad times for MMA fans across the globe. No one likes to see their favorite athletes age and their release was yet another reminder of our own mortality.
What do you see in the immediate future for Alistair Overeem and Junior Dos Santos?
