http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/overeem-ekskluzivno-za-index-cro-cop-mi-je-bio-uzor-on-je-legenda-ali

TAGOVI
Alistair Overeem | Dream | Cro Cop |

IHR - What made you come to the WFC show in ljubljana?

AO - A friend invited me so I came on a bit of a holiday

IHR - When can we see you in the ring again, Strikeforce?

AO - I should defend my title in about 7 weeks. I'll be there in top form. I had a fight a couple of weeks ago but I feel great.

IHR - Who will be your opponent?

AO - Most likely Fabricio Werdum

IHE- You fought him in Pride in 0& and lost

AO - There's a big dofference between who I was then and who I am now. We've both developed as fighters and are more experience.First time around I wasn't prepered. I was nursing injuries and felt like I was fighting myself instead of an opponent.My body wasn't prepeard and I got tired too quickly. I'm not really impressed with his style of fighting. I'll beat him next time.

IHR - Word has it that you'll fight Cro Cop on July 20?

Ao - It probably wont happen. I wanted to fight him for NYE. It didn't happen because he fought Choi so CC is no longer a priority for me. He's been offered to fight me a bunch of times but he refused.The time has passed for that fight. It doesn't interest me.I'm just looking forward to fighting better fighters like Barnett, Arlovski and Fedor.

IHR - Cro Cop is still a huge draw. Do you think his time has passed?

AO - I don't think he's old or that his time has passed. He's still a great fighter and there are loads of fighters he would KO. For all I know he could make a huge comeback. It's jut that that fight doesn't interest me anymore.

IHR - Who ducked who. He says yoiu ducked him.

AO - You're hearing this first hand. He had a chance to fight me NYE but he didn't We both fought on the show but vs different fighters. If he really wanted to smash me like he said in interviews he had the chance.

IHR - He publically said something totally different.

AO - I'm an honest guy who says whats on his mind. If I see that someone is ducking I'll say it publically. I'm not a liar, he is. You tell everyone you want a rematch but when the opportunity comes you back off. That means he's full of shit.

IHR - Tell me about the first fight

AO - I dominated.I didn't take one punch.I wasn't tired and I destroyed him. My attack was perfect.

I'm done work and I gotta split. I'll translate the rest later.

Part 2

more about fight with Cro Cop

AO - It was all about tactics. Mine and especially his which was the wrong one. When I think about it it was a very easy fight. He didn't impress me at all.With out a doubt in the past he showed alot. From the begining I was one of his biggest fans. Just watch his fight with Nog and all the people he KO'd. Those were textbook fights. I think he's a legend but its obvious that I was the much better figher.

IHR- You're fighting for strikeforce and Dream but the best HW fighters are in the UFC

AO-At the moment I'm the strikeforce champion anfd they're starting to bring in some quality fighters and can soon be serious competition vs the ufc. Affliction is there as well. The UFC is still an option but at the moment I'm where I am.

IHR - Recently yow showed great skill in the K1 ring.

AO- I have absolutly no interest in K1 fights anymore. I KOd Badar Hari so I decided to take on Bojanski who is one of the best. I lost the fight even though I think I won. I have no plans to fight K1 rules in the future.

IHR- You had a huge leap forward over the past 2 years. What did you change?

AO-I changed my method of training, my trainers, I changed everything. From my girlfriend to my diet.In the past I ate alot of vegetables which are good for you but they have no energy. Now I eat horse meat, rice, shakes and protein.

IHR - You finish your fights with strikes and on the ground.

AO- I do well standing and on the ground but to be honest I prefer KOing people standing.

IHR-You alwayf fought at 205. Now you're over 110 kg.

AO -I gained 10 kg. I've always been a natural HW, about 100 kg. I used to cut weight. That would exaust me. I would lose power as the fight want on.Now I fight at my natural weight and its easier to train and prepare and fight.

IHR- What are your plans for 2009?

AO - I'd like to fight for the DREAM title. If it's against Cro Cop then great. If it's not for the title fighting him is not a priority. I'd like to fight Fedor for some kind of belt.

IHR- You mentioned Fedor. What makes him the greatest fighter

AO - " reasons. He is reslly good and the other is that others are not that good. I'm mot at all impressed with the HW division in this sport. The only HWs that matter are Fedor, Barnett, Lesnar, Me and Nog even though his last fight was shit.

IHR - Hoe do you explain the poor performance by Pride fighters ie. Mirko, Nog in the UFC. Some say that they used steroids in Japan
.
AO- Don't know. It's true that some fighters did poorly but some did well. Look at anderson Silvs and Rampage. Truth is that it's hard to stay on top for a long time.Look at Shogan who was unstopable. He's not the same.

IHR - Who are your hero's in the sport?

AO-There are alot of great fighters. I like Igor Vov who I beat. I like Cro COp who I also fought , Fedor and when I was a kid , my brother (Valjinen Overeem)

I have to agree with Overeem. Cro Cop is my favorite fighter and always will be bt I remember when he was calling out fighters ( Fedor , Coleman )and I never had a problem with it so I don't know why so many CC fans hate Overeem. I think Overeem came off as respectfull but honest.I think he's going to be a deast at HW. With guys like Monson, Kharitonov, Mighty Moe, Hunt, Cro Cop, Lebanner, Dream can have a deep HW division if they could get a few more guys.I really want to see Overeem Werdum II ,. Hope it happens at Strikeforce. I think Overeems ground game improved mre than Werdums striking. Werdum was the most passive striker in Pride, after he joined Chute Boxe he became more aggressive as a striker but at the same time left himself open and payed for it in his last fight.