Alistair Overeem Doesn't Believe Fedor Emelianenko Is GOAT
Alistair Overeem Doesn't Believe Fedor Emelianenko Is GOAT
UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem says Fedor Emelianenko's track record is filled with wins over "cans."
Alistair Overeem is a large man with one-punch, one-kick, one-knee knockout power. He also has very big opinions to go along with his sizable frame.
During a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, "The Reem" was asked whether or not he believes his former Pride and Strikeforce roster mate Fedor Emelianenko is the greatest heavyweight to ever step into the cage. And while that is a label the Russian star has carried for years, the hard-hitting Dutchman disagreed. Overeem explained Emelianenko's resume is filled with wins of over subpar competition, and the fact the former Pride champion never jumped over to face the best of the UFC roster counts strongly against him in the all-time conversation.
Furthermore, Overeem insists Emelianenko twice refused to fight him while they were both under the Strikeforce banner, so there will be no GOAT attached to Fedor's name if the former K-1 and Strikeforce heavyweight king has anything to say about it.
"I think Fedor had a great run in 2002-2005 and after that, people talk about 10 years undefeated and blah, blah, blah, but after 2005, who did he fight?" Overeem said. "He fought cans. The other thing is that he never tested himself in the UFC. That's something that bothers me. He should have done that. He should have went to the UFC and went to that mix. There's always gonna be that little thing over his career.
"He's not the greatest heavyweight because he declined to fight me on two occasions while I was the Strikeforce heavyweight champion. You want to fight for the belt, right? I wanted to fight him, he's a name. And secondly, because he didn't go to the UFC."
During a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, "The Reem" was asked whether or not he believes his former Pride and Strikeforce roster mate Fedor Emelianenko is the greatest heavyweight to ever step into the cage. And while that is a label the Russian star has carried for years, the hard-hitting Dutchman disagreed. Overeem explained Emelianenko's resume is filled with wins of over subpar competition, and the fact the former Pride champion never jumped over to face the best of the UFC roster counts strongly against him in the all-time conversation.
Furthermore, Overeem insists Emelianenko twice refused to fight him while they were both under the Strikeforce banner, so there will be no GOAT attached to Fedor's name if the former K-1 and Strikeforce heavyweight king has anything to say about it.
"I think Fedor had a great run in 2002-2005 and after that, people talk about 10 years undefeated and blah, blah, blah, but after 2005, who did he fight?" Overeem said. "He fought cans. The other thing is that he never tested himself in the UFC. That's something that bothers me. He should have done that. He should have went to the UFC and went to that mix. There's always gonna be that little thing over his career.
"He's not the greatest heavyweight because he declined to fight me on two occasions while I was the Strikeforce heavyweight champion. You want to fight for the belt, right? I wanted to fight him, he's a name. And secondly, because he didn't go to the UFC."
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