Just 18 months ago, Alistair Overeem was the biggest bust in UFC history.
'Reem signed with the UFC in 2011 with a massive wave of hype behind him. Dream heavyweight champion. Strikeforce heavyweight champion. K-1 2010 World Grand Prix winner. His mantel was full of trophies, with the sole omission being the UFC heavyweight title. When he debuted in the UFC by knocking out Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, setting up a title shot opposite Junior dos Santos, it seemed like he was destined to go down as one of the most accomplished fighters in combat sports.
Then came a failed drug test that cost him his shot at gold. Then came three knockout losses across a four-fight stretch. It was easy to assume Overeem was done, and many did just that.
When he roared back into title contention with three straight wins over Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson and dos Santos, many still found reason to doubt him. The only way to silence doubters, however, is to just keep winning.
He did just that at Sunday's UFC Fight Night 87 by scoring a feel-good win over Andrei Arlovski.
In the first round, Arlovski dictated the early goings, clipping Overeem with a hard flurry of punches before taking over the clinch game. Overeem would survive but was clearly reluctant to advance on Arlovski for a time. They spent much of the round circling one another, with both men flicking leg kicks and Overeem occasionally initiating the clinch and landing a knee. With 40 seconds left, the Dutch crowd's hometown favorite completed a sneaky outside trip and settled into Arlovski's guard, likely stealing the round.
The second frame, however, was pure gunslinging. Overeem and Arlovski exchanged heavy strikes for the opening minute until Overeem returned to range and leaped into a crane kick, similar to the one seen in The Karate Kid. The strike landed clean to Arlovski's chin, putting him on wobbly legs. Then came a massive left hook from Overeem that sent Arlovski to the mat.
OMG!!!!
ALISTAIR OVEREEM KO'S ARLOVSKI!!! #UFCRotterdam https://t.co/5f1kWS1ZhD
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) May 8, 2016
The former UFC champion turtled and offered no real resistance to the flurry of ground and pound. Overeem poured on punishment until, at 1:12 of the second round, the referee called the fight.
Overeem didn't necessarily show off anything new in this fight, once again scoring the win with his diverse striking attack. It was, however, a reminder that he is one of the best finishers in MMA today, regardless of his struggles in 2014.
On paper, he should be in line for a crack at the winner of UFC 198's heavyweight title fight between Fabricio Werdum and Stipe Miocic. That said, it's unclear whether he will be able to get it, as other challengers such as Cain Velasquez and Travis Browne (who defeated Overeem in 2013) are also lurking.
Either way, Overeem's rise back to the top is complete. He is one of the best heavyweights in the world and there is absolutely no way to deny it.
