UFC Confirms Ongoing Talks with Former Strikeforce Champ Alistair Overeem

Alistair Overeem

Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem may not be in Strikeforce any longer, but that doesn’t mean he won’t end up in the UFC.

The K-1 Grand Prix champion and now former Strikeforce champion was released from the promotion after a contract situation arose between Zuffa and Overeem’s management group at Team Golden Glory.

Overeem, along with his teammates Marloes Coenen, brother Valentijn Overeem, and Jon Olav Einemo, were all released after the promotion opted not to do business with the Holland based team any longer.

Now it appears that Zuffa and Team Golden Glory are back on speaking terms, and UFC president Dana White is hoping to strike a deal with Overeem.

“We’re talking to Overeem,” White confirmed when speaking to Dan Le Batard on ESPN 790 in Miami. “When everything fell apart, you heard me say we can’t do business with these guys the way they want to do business, meaning his management.

“Well, they’ve changed their opinions on how they can do business with us, so now we can.”

The business was essentially Team Golden Glory asking Zuffa to pay them for any fighters they managed, and then in turn they would pay the athletes. Zuffa officials were only willing to pay the fighters directly, and when the negotiations came to a standstill on that point, everything broke down.

Overeem and his teammates were released, but now with the Dutch striker back on speaking terms with the UFC, it could be only a matter of time before he’s Octagon bound.

Golden Glory’s leader Bas Boon said that a deal could be done with Overeem ending up in the UFC.

“We are even willing to make an exclusive deal for Alistair Overeem to fight in the UFC, if the terms are right,” Boon stated.

With the two sides now talking, Overeem could very well be in the UFC before it’s all said and done.

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