NYHED | Alistair Overeem droppet i Strikeforce GP

Den hollandske kæmper er raget uklar med Zuffa.

En simpel tåskade har vist sig udslagsgivende for K-1 champens videre fremtid i Strikeforce's turnering, hvor Overeem skulle have møde brazilianeren Antonio Silva i semifinalen.

Ifølge hollænderen kunne denne ikke acceptere datoen for stævnet, som efter planen finder sted 10. September, hvilket fik forbundet til at true med exit fra turneringen. En udmelding som ikke faldt i god jord hos Overeem:

"I've had some threats of cutting me out of the tournament if I don't participate. I don't know if they're going to do it. Personally, I don't like to be threatened. If people start talking like that then...be my guest, but then I'm really not going to sing to their tune. For them to unilaterally declare, okay, [September 10] is going to be the second round, which I never agreed on, and then threaten me if I don't want it, it...doesn't really show a lot of respect."(MMAmania.com)

Få timer senere blev det så offentliggjort, at den olympiske bryder Daniel Cormier skulle udfylde den ledige plads i turneringen, og Overeem er således fortid i turneringen, som kunne have bragt ham til den absolutte top i vægtklassen. Medier har siden annonceringen spekuleret i kæmperens fremtid i forbundet, men ifølge Dana White er Overeem fortsat under kontrakt og vil kæmpe igen, når han er kommet sig ovenpå skaden:

"Sept. 10 was the date Showtime wants us to go, so it's the date we've got to go," White said. "It's unfortunate that Alistair is unavailable, but situations like this are why there are alternates in the tournament (...) Overeem is under contract, and when his pinky toe heals up, we'll get him another fight." (MMAJunkie.com)

MMAforum.dk følger udviklingen i denne uheldige situation.