Alistair Overeem To Fight For K-1 First Before Defending Strikeforce Heavyweight Title In 2010

Alistair ‘Demolition Man’ Overeem has not defended his Strikeforce heavyweight title since his victory over Paul Buentello back in November of 2007.  The question everyone seems to ask is whether or not Overeem would come back to the United States anytime soon to defend his title?  When exactly will he put his title on the line and why hasn’t he fought for Strikeforce in over 2 years?

His manager Bas Boon tell us what to expect from the Demolition Man in 2010:

“I never said he wasn’t fighting in April. What I said was there will be a fight by the end of March or April in K-1, and actually, he did very well in K-1 and he’s got an extremely good contract. Commercial-wise, it’s better for him, and we agreed to this already on K-1, that we will do that fight. After that fight, he will fight in Strikeforce. Two, three times, whatever is available in May, June, July, we don’t care. Think about it, man, he’s broadcast in 150 countries (on K-1). Right now, he’s got more sponsors than he ever had before. In his own country, he had a crazy rating during the Grand Prix, but also on EuroSport and also in Thailand. And this is where the UFC isn’t even broadcast. UFC is not even broadcast in Europe. Nobody knows about the UFC. Semmy Schilt and Alistair Overeem are gods there. You’re talking about a continent with 280 million people. I understand Americans look at America as the number one country in the world, but we also have stadiums with 20,000 people and broadcast live on TV all over Europe and in a lot of different countries. Worldwide, (Alistair) gained a lot more popularity, financially he got a lot better off, and that doesn’t mean we’re not going to be obliged to our contract with Strikeforce. Yes, he’s going to fight in 2010, and it will not be mid, but it will be earlier in the year. In May, for sure, he will fight in America. It just depends on the date.”

Fight Video: Alistair Overeem vs. Remy Bonjasky (K-1 WGP Yokohama 2009)

Fight Video: Melvin Manhoef vs. Keijiro Maeda (K-1 WGP Yokohama 2009)

HDNet To Broadcast DREAM And K-1 Events Through 2009

HDNet fights had partnered up with FEG USA Inc. earlier this year and have recently agreed to extend their contract through 2009.  This means that Mark Cuban’s HDNet will air live events for both DREAM and K-1 organizations through 2009.

DREAM is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighting organization and a sister-promotion to K-1.  K-1 is a Japanese combat sport combining stand-up techniques including Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Karate, Savate, Boxing, among others.

HDNet televised DREAM 1 and 2 via tape delay and the events for DREAM 3- DREAM 6 were all aired live.  With the new partnership HDNet now has with FEG USA Inc., all DREAM and K-1 events will broadcast both live and via same-day tape delay.

The next live broadcast for this year will broadcast on December 6, airing the 2008 K-1 Grand Prix Final (aired live at 3am ET and 9pm ET via same-day tape delay).  This K-1 tournament final consists of 8 finalists who look to battle it out in the ring to determine the #1 stand-up fighter in the world. 

DREAM will also broadcast their final event called Fields Dynamite!!!, scheduled to take place on New Year’s eve–December 31, 2008 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. 

K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite Fight Video: Yosuke Nishijima vs Melvin Manhoef

K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite Fight Video: Ikuhisa Minowa vs Zuluzinho

Such an awkward match-up…check out how Minowa runs away from him:

K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite Fight Video: Bob Sapp vs Bobby Ologun

K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite Fight Video: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Masakatsu Funaki