Dutch kick-boxer poised for long-awaited rematch

If Alistair Overeem wants to achieve his goal of becoming a legend in mixed martial arts, he'll first have to avenge a loss from 2006.

The 31-year-old Dutch kick-boxing specialist gets the chance to take that step tonight when he gets a rematch against Fabricio Werdum in the quarterfinal round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in Dallas.

Overeem was submitted by Werdum in a Pride Fighting Championships bout that was the beginning of a 2-5 stretch in the middle of his career.

He has found nothing but success since.

"I hit a ceiling, and I had a lot of things that held me back. I became a father. I had a company on the side that took a lot of energy," he said. "I changed a lot of personal circumstances. I changed gyms, sold my company, and my mind got better. Then I chose to be a heavyweight and focus on that weight division, and I got back on track."

Overeem has lost just once in 12 fights since transforming his body by putting on about 40 pounds of muscle and fighting at heavyweight full time.

His opponent also has come a long way since their first meeting. Werdum has won five of his past six fights, including a submission over Fedor Emelianenko that ended the Russian's long winning streak last June.

"Fabricio has been incredible the last couple of years, but (I have) not been sitting still. It's going to be an incredible fight," Overeem said. "This fight's going to be different than the last time. You're going to see a way more aggressive Alistair Overeem. I'll be looking for the knockout from the first second."

Overeem is already the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, a title he won in 2007 but has defended only once because he has spent more of his time competing in Japan. In December, he won both the DREAM heavyweight title and the K-1 title within weeks of each other, becoming the first fighter to concurrently hold both a world MMA and kick-boxing title.

Overeem has become a big star in Japan through all of his success but now has his sights set on popularity in the United States.

"I've achieved all my goals there. I feel that it's time to focus on new goals. I'm always looking for the next challenge, and logically that was to fight more here in the States," he said. "The goals always change. My first goal was just to win my first fight. Then my goal became to fight in Japan. Then it was to reach Pride. Then I wanted to be the champion. I've been a three-time world champion in different leagues.

"Now I want to become a legend, and I feel if I keep this up, it will happen."

Overeem said winning this tournament, which he says features eight of the world's best heavyweights, is an important step in that direction.

He said after winning the tournament, he'd next like to turn his attention to the Ultimate Fighting Championship's heavyweight elite, but first things first.

"I see this Grand Prix as an opportunity to show not only the fans in the U.S. but to the fans all over the world that I'm No. 1," Overeem said.

Josh Barnett will take on Brett Rogers in tonight's other quarterfinal matchup. Sergei Kharitonov and Antonio Silva already have advanced to the semifinals, which likely will take place in early fall.

Overeem's older brother, Valentijn, will meet Chad Griggs on the card, with the winner possibly filling a reserve role in the tournament in case of injury. Daniel Cormier and Jeff Monson compete under similar circumstances.

Also, K.J. Noons will meet Jorge Masvidal, with the winner potentially earning a shot against lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.

The card airs tape-delayed on Showtime (Cable 240) at 10 p.m.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.