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Alistair Overeem to retire from combat sports within 18 months: ‘I would’ve liked to finish in UFC’

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Alistair Overeem vows he’s entered the final stretch of his decorated combat sports career.

Overeem, a former Strikeforce, DREAM, and K-1 champion, has been fighting professionally since 1999. He’s squeezed nearly everything possible out of the journey, and while there’s still at least one more pitstop, he’s approaching his final destination.

After seeing his more than nine-year stint with the UFC come to an end with an unexpected release earlier this year, Overeem is going back to his roots. He’s scheduled to cross back over into the kickboxing world on Oct. 23 when he challenges Rico Verhoeven for the GLORY heavyweight championship in his native Netherlands. It’s an opportunity to put a massive bow on an illustrious career, and Overeem is taking it seriously.

Overeem knows it’s the last hurrah, though. He’s on a three-fight contract with GLORY, and he said the door is still “a little bit open” to go back to MMA for the “right fight, right opportunity.” Whether he fulfills his entire GLORY contract or does anything else fighting-related will depend on things like performance and results, but at 41 years old, Overeem is setting a hard retirement deadline of 18 months.

“I even think that my age is kind of limited,” Overeem told MMA Junkie. “I’m realistic about it. My end is also coming. It’s going to be my final year, then it’s over. It’s done. One year, one in a half. It needs to be wrapped up in a year and a half. 18 months – it needs to be over. We have to be realistic.”

If Overeem was able to write the script, he would’ve ended his career in the UFC with the title around his waist. It’s the only championship that eluded him out of all the major organizations he’s competed for, but then his “final run” was derailed with a TKO loss to Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night 184 in February, and he was subsequently released from his contract.

Even if Overeem couldn’t get a final UFC title shot, he said he would’ve like to have completed his deal and retired inside the octagon. It’s not how the cookie crumbled, though, and Overeem said he holds no ill will toward the UFC brass for its decision.

“I’m professional – I’m realistic,” Overeem said. “This is something the UFC can do after you lose. That is the terms of their contracts, they can release you from the contract. I’ve had a good time with the UFC. They can do this. Maybe it was time for the younger generation to come in. You can’t forget, I am 41 years old. I am getting a little bit older. If it was up to me I would’ve liked to finish in UFC, but it was not up to me.

“Only the UFC belt is missing from my wall. We were so close. It is what it is. If there would be one thing I could’ve changed or wanted it would be that UFC belt. But on the other hand (I had) so many beautiful victories. So many exciting moments. I’m proud about (my career there).”

Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven (L) stands in front of Dutch kickboxer Alistair Overeem during a press presentation ahead of their first fight in Utrecht on September 21, 2021. – The boxers will compete for the world title in October during Glory 79 in Gelredome in Arnhem. It is the first time that the fighters see each other face to face. – Netherlands OUT (Photo by Marco de Swart / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by MARCO DE SWART/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Although every step of his career hasn’t played out the exact way Overeem planned or hoped, he’s at peace with his reality. Looking forward, the fight with Verhoeven will be a steep challenge. His fellow Dutchman has ruled GLORY’s heavyweight division with an iron fist for the better part of a decade, and it will be a difficult task to derail him.

Overeem said he’s up for the test, though. He thinks the pieces of his life has fallen into a good place post-UFC, and he’s where he needs to be physically and mentally going into his return to kickboxing.

“A lot has happened in the last six months,” Overeem said. “The release. Finding a new promotion. Getting enthusiastic again. Figuring out training camp. A lot of steps have happened. But I love my life, I love what I’m doing. I love the sport. I’m just happy doing what I’m doing.”

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