Alistair Overeem looks to take next heavyweight step at UFC 203

Heavyweight star Alistair Overeem can add what he calls the final jewel to his crown of career achievements when he fights Stipe Miocic for the UFC title in the main event of UFC 203 on Saturday in Cleveland.

But he’ll have to do it in hostile territory.

Overeem estimated “99.8 percent” of the crowd at Quicken Loans Arena will be vocal supporters of Miocic, a hometown hero who still works as a firefighter and paramedic in suburban Cleveland.

Throughout a lengthy and successful career that has seen him win just about every major MMA title outside the UFC, Overeem thinks he has gained enough experience to deal with anything a rowdy Ohio crowd can dish out.

“I have had 86 fights all around the world, and I’ve seen it all,” Overeem said last week in Los Angeles. “Cleveland is nice, especially if you compare it to Russia and some of the places I’ve fought where everyone is cold and grumpy and all bundled up and they just hate you.

“That was hostile territory. This isn’t like that. This is the UFC. It’s Cleveland. It’s nice.”

Life has been pretty good there for Miocic since he won the belt with a first-round knockout of Fabricio Werdum in May.

He was a fixture on the big screen in the arena as his beloved Cavaliers made their run to the NBA title, and he hit a home run while taking batting practice with the Indians. Miocic has admittedly enjoyed his celebrity status in his hometown.

Overeem has noticed.

“It’s all about if he can stay focused,” Overeem said. “It’s all about how you deal with that. If you’re doing the appearances and the pool parties, and, yes, we’ve seen him at not one but several, he’s enjoying the life. It’s not a bad thing, but know someone is coming and they’re going to take that belt.”

Overeem, 36, thinks it’s his time. The former Strikeforce and Dream champion was a star in Pride and even won a K-1 kickboxing World Grand Prix title in 2010. His transition to the UFC wasn’t easy.

After knocking out Brock Lesnar in his UFC debut, the Dutch striker dropped three of his next four fights. A quick knockout of Stefan Struve changed his fortunes and triggered a four-fight winning streak that has culminated in this title shot.

“We’ve gone to all these other promotions and given it a good fight and often come out on top,” Overeem said. “The UFC is the big one. It truly is the elite, and it’s the only one missing for me. I’m going to get it. We’ve beat six UFC champions along the way. I’m really proud of that. Stipe would make a good No. 7.”

Miocic obviously disagrees. While he acknowledges life as a champion has its perks, the 34-year-old former college wrestler and baseball player says nothing has interfered with his focus.

“(Overeem will) find out Saturday whether I’ve been training or not — when he’s sleeping,” Miocic said. “I’ve been doing what I’m supposed to do. I’ve got obligations, but I’ve been training all the time. Everywhere I go, I bring a coach with me. I’ve brought guys to spar with me.

“It’s business. I’m going to go out there and do my job. I’ve trained too hard to give up my title. Nothing has changed with my training except that I’m training harder than I ever have before.”

One of the benefits of winning the title was to get the UFC to finally bring an event to Cleveland, and Miocic is thrilled to headline it.

He insists fighting at home on such a big stage hasn’t added any more pressure than he felt fighting in Cleveland in five of his six pro fights before he signed with the UFC.

“The ‘Q’ is going to be crazy. I know that,” he said. “But it’s all about the task at hand. All I’ll be thinking about is what I’m going to do to that guy.

“I’ve fought (in Cleveland) already. There’s just going to be about 10,000 more people there this time.”

Overeem thinks he will ruin the occasion.

“I was here during the (championship) parade,” he said. “It was madness, and it was nice to see a very proud state finally accomplish (a title). I almost feel a little sad I’m going to be taking something away from them, but I will be taking it away this Saturday.”

Then it will be his turn to finally celebrate a UFC title.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj