Steve Cofield: "Overeem Should Be Stripped Of His Belt"
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:13 am
http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewr ... mma,186790
Why have championship belts if your fighters never defend them? Cung Le hasn't fought since March of 2008. Alistair Overeem has taken it to ridiculous levels. The Strikeforce heavyweight champ hasn't defended the strap since he won it back in November of 2007 against Paul Buentello.
It's gotten to the point where Strikeforce heavyweights aren't asking for an Overeem fight. The fight means zippo. The most desired fight is now against champ-in-waiting Fedor Emelianenko.
Overeem canceled his August 15 fight against Fabricio Werdum because of a mysterious hand injury. Now he's booked for what looks like a K-1 fight next month against Peter Aerts and then another appearance in December. When the heck will he fight in the U.S. again for Strikeforce? Frankly, we're starting to think he's avoiding fighting in the United States. We hate to do it, but there's was a lot of PED chatter surrounding Overeem when he was at the April Strikeforce event. He defiantly denied the steroid allegations with Ariel Helwani. The picture shows Overeem growing from a 205-pounder to huge 254-pounder in three years.
Who knows what the reason is? It's clear Overeem doesn't respect the title or Strikeforce. It's time to strip him and hold a heavyweight tournament. Make it an eight-man tourney with Fedor as the No. 1 seed. If Overeem wants in, he's welcome to. It'd be a great way to build up the heavyweight roster and further promote Fedor's name in the U.S.
Why have championship belts if your fighters never defend them? Cung Le hasn't fought since March of 2008. Alistair Overeem has taken it to ridiculous levels. The Strikeforce heavyweight champ hasn't defended the strap since he won it back in November of 2007 against Paul Buentello.
It's gotten to the point where Strikeforce heavyweights aren't asking for an Overeem fight. The fight means zippo. The most desired fight is now against champ-in-waiting Fedor Emelianenko.
Overeem canceled his August 15 fight against Fabricio Werdum because of a mysterious hand injury. Now he's booked for what looks like a K-1 fight next month against Peter Aerts and then another appearance in December. When the heck will he fight in the U.S. again for Strikeforce? Frankly, we're starting to think he's avoiding fighting in the United States. We hate to do it, but there's was a lot of PED chatter surrounding Overeem when he was at the April Strikeforce event. He defiantly denied the steroid allegations with Ariel Helwani. The picture shows Overeem growing from a 205-pounder to huge 254-pounder in three years.
Who knows what the reason is? It's clear Overeem doesn't respect the title or Strikeforce. It's time to strip him and hold a heavyweight tournament. Make it an eight-man tourney with Fedor as the No. 1 seed. If Overeem wants in, he's welcome to. It'd be a great way to build up the heavyweight roster and further promote Fedor's name in the U.S.