No love lost between UFC opponents Andrei Arlovski and Alistair Overeem

Andrei Arlovski and Alistair Overeem train under the same roof in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but it would be a stretch to call them teammates.

The term friends shouldn’t even enter the discussion.

Whatever relationship ever existed between the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight contenders has evaporated during the buildup to their UFC Fight Night 87 main event bout Sunday in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

“Technically, I’m a teammate of Overeem,” Arlovski told UFC.com. “But nothing more. I’m not friends with Alistair Overeem. To me, he’s just another tough opponent.”

Both fighters train at Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA, but Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn will be in Arlovski’s corner for the fight.

That was a decision made shortly after the fight was announced in February. Exactly how the bout came together is still up for debate.

Arlovski, a former UFC heavyweight champion, said he thinks Overeem specifically requested Arlovski as his opponent for a showcase fight on the UFC’s first card in his native country. Overeem said he simply accepted the opponent UFC officials offered him.

“Listen, I have no idea why Overeem chose me, and I don’t really care,” Arlovski said. “The reality is I’m going to do everything possible to beat him.”

That won’t be easy. Overeem has won three straight fights, including two by knockout. He said he thinks a win over Arlovski will put him in the mix for a heavyweight title shot that has eluded him despite a successful career.

Overeem said not having Jackson and Winkeljohn in his corner won’t be an issue. He said it only made sense because he works with many coaches around the world and Arlovski only works with the staff in New Mexico.

Arlovski said it came down to him having seniority at the gym and being more a part of the team.

“All (the) coaches in the team are in my corner, so I’m good,” he said. “I’m in great hands. I wanted to be cornered by them, so I will be cornered by them. I’m not going to change anything (for Overeem).”

The Dutchman insists it won’t be strange to fight Arlovski no matter who’s in his corner.

“We don’t hang out outside the gym,” Arlovski said. “We don’t even hang out inside the gym. I think because we both felt this moment would come sooner or later.”

Overeem never has been short on confidence, and he’s certainly not lacking in that area going against someone he has encountered often in the gym.

“I’m the better fighter,” Overeem said. “I’m better everywhere. I’ve got better cardio, I’m better on the ground, I’m better in the clinch, I’ve got better striking, I’ve got kicks, I’ve got all kinds of weapons to get the job done.”

No matter the outcome, Overeem told reporters in Rotterdam on Friday he would be willing to sit down for a coffee with Arlovski after the fight.

It’s not likely the offer will be accepted.

“No,” Arlovski said. “I’m not going to be friends with him, for sure. From my side, nothing is going to change.”

The event will air on Fox Sports 1, with the preliminary card at 9 a.m. and the main card at 11.

A heavyweight bout between Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Stefan Struve is also featured, as well as a welterweight matchup pitting Gunnar Nelson against Albert Tumenov.

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