Alistair "The Reem" Overeem - Official UFC® Fighter Profile

Close Thumbnails

Getty Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).

photo 1 of 66

Alistair Overeem

TRAINING: It's just training, nothing typical. We work on all aspects of the MMA game, so that's striking, wrestling, groundwork, sparring, condition and strength training, etc. So having so much to work on every day is different.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training at the age of 17 and fought my first serious fight at 19 years old. My brother took me to the gym to defend myself and I was a youngster with a lot of energy. My brother showed me that I could use the energy in sport and he was right. After a while, I enjoyed working out and eventually fighting for a living.

What ranks and titles have you held? 2h2h World champion, 1st place European ADCC third place Pride Middleweight Grand Prix, Dream Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Champion, Strikeforce heavyweight champion

Do you have any heroes? No

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Yes, I finished college but never had the desire to continue with school. I discovered pretty quick that I wanted to be a athlete or join the army.

What was your job before you started fighting? My brother works in security, so when I was young and fighting I tried to make some extra money by doing security work as a bouncer.

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? Fighting people that I looked up to in the beginning of my career like Belfort, Igor Vovanchyn and Peter Aerts and beating them is extra special. My first fight against Badr Hari was also a special accomplishment; people never thought I could win that fight and beat him in the first round via KO.

Favorite grappling technique: Guillotine

Favorite Striking technique: Knees

What do you consider to be the key fight in your career, and why? For some reason your last fight is always the key fight. From that point you decide what your next move is going to be and that’s the beauty of fighting: there is always a challenge.