Dear Dana:
Last week I went on about why Ben Askren should be in the UFC. While focused on the curly haired wrestler, I vastly overlooked a more important issue that needs to be brought to attention.
Last week, Alistair Overeem suffered another huge loss. As in most of his UFC fights, Overeem was a heavy favorite going in, only to be laid flat out on the canvas.
I don’t often mix Disney and MMA, but when I saw Ben Rothwell take Overeem out at UFC Fight Night 50, the first thing that came to my mind was a melody from Frozen.
“Let him go, let him go….”
Big Bucks for Little Reward
Looking at Overeem’s pay is always perplexing. He has one of the more unique contracts in the UFC. For showing up to fight Frank Mir at UFC 169, he was paid $285,714. Such a weird number, and most importantly, it’s such a high number. No other fighter earned more from UFC 169 than Overeem did just to show (Jose Aldo earned a combined total of $240,000 for show and win).
Overeem ended up grinding out a decision win over Frank Mir in a very lackluster fight. For one of the most boring fights in recent UFC history, Overeem was rewarded $121,429 for the win. Overall, he made $407,143 at UFC 169.
Overeem is one of the bigger names in the heavyweight division, and he is one of the more polarizing fighters in the company, but to be paid a guaranteed $280,000 for every fight is crazy, especially considering his record in the UFC. His salary is solely based on his accomplishments outside of the UFC, but the Overeem of 2011 is not the Overeem of 2014. There are many other fighters who deserve more compensation for putting on exciting performances and giving the UFC a positive image.
Overeem has lost three of five UFC fights by knockout, which has resulted in bitter contract negotiations in the past. He has also ruined a PPV event by being caught and suspended for high levels of testosterone.
At this point, the UFC doesn’t need Overeem.
Brain Damage
Turning to a more serious note, the UFC needs to be aware of the athletes who are at risk for long term damage, even after their fighting days are over.
Overeem is a prime candidate for someone who could be used as an example by mainstream media as to the longterm dangers of MMA, if he continues to take damage. He has fought in 52 professional MMA matches and in 14 professional kick-boxing matches. That means that against world class fighters, he has been punched, kicked or elbowed in the face with full force on 70 different occasions.
Gary Goodridge is a good example of the dangers of hanging around both MMA and kickboxing for too long after taking many KO losses. The former PRIDE fighter actually fought Overeem in 2008, losing by submission, and afterwards lost four straight fights by TKO. Goodridge now suffers from dementia as a result of being knocked out 24 times in a combined 85 fights between MMA and kickboxing. Overeem has been knocked out or TKO’d 12 times in 68 fights between MMA and kickboxing, and has been more susceptible to being knocked out recently.
If you, Dana White, sat down and talked to Overeem like you did Liddell, I’m sure that you could convince the “Reem” to hang up his gloves for good. He’s not in the Top 10 of the division anymore, and he has nothing more to prove as a fighter.
It would be much better for the sport, the UFC, and Alistair himself if he decided that his time in MMA has passed. If he still has the itch to fight, let him go to Bellator and KO some undersized heavyweights. I just don’t want to see Overeem on the end of another highlight reel KO in the UFC.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @MikeHutchLWOS. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
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