Alistair Overeem's Next Fight Set, Eddie Alvarez Talks Octagon Debut, More UFC Heavyweight News
- Coming off a vicious knockout loss to Ben Rothwell, former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem will try to get back on track this December when he faces Stefan Struve at UFC on FOX 13. Officials announced the bout for the December 13 card from Phoenix recently.
Overeem (37-14) has gone just 2-3 since signing with the promotion, defeating former champions Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. All three losses, though, have been via knockout to Antonio Silva, Travis Browne and Rothwell.
Struve (25-6) is hoping to get back inside the Octagon for the first time in over a year. He was diagnosed with a heart issue following his loss to Mark Hunt and had a planned fight with Matt Mitrione earlier this year called off at the last minute after a near-fainting attack.
- Former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez will make his Octagon debut next weekend at UFC 178 against Donald Cerrone. While many fighters have succumbed to nerves in their first UFC appearance, Alvarez doesn't believe that will happen to him.
"No added nerves, just some added excitement," he said, during a recent appearance on UFC Tonight. "I've fought everywhere and I've fought some of the best guys in the world. I've learned what's important. The lights don't bug me anymore. It's just about me and Donald Cerrone."
The bout serves as the co-main event to a headline fight between UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and Chris Cariaso. Conor McGregor-Dustin Poirier are also set for the pay-per-view main card.
- There was plenty of heavyweight news on "UFC Tonight" Wednesday evening, as Ariel Helwani reported Stipe Miocic and Junior dos Santos appear set for December. The two were expected to meet earlier this year, but a hand injury knocked dos Santos out.
Matt Mitrione and Andrei Arlovski could also be on a collision course, but it was reported Arlovski might be sidelined due to a broken wrist. Ben Rothwell, coming off a win over Alistair Overeem, is also looking to fight again in January against either Miocic, dos Santos or Arlovski.