SteemSports Presenter:
SteemSports Editor:
In the era of lackluster heavyweight fights, and men not worthy enough to hold the crown....we have two men willing to engage at their career peaks. One man is a rising star, seeking his legacy by way of destroying veterans one at a time...and the other end of the spectrum poses an elite threat, one of the greatest strikers to ever grace the cage.
Alistair Overeem is almost a household name to non 'mma' fans as his legacy as K-1 champion, and his overall pedigree in the martial arts world is immensely renowned. Dramatic fights and finishes with the best to have ever done it in Badr Hari, Gokhan Saki, and Tyrone Spong have legitimatized Alistair as one of the greatest kickboxers of all time.
Overeem has grown into his new form, once being a bloated light heavyweight whom cared less for cardio than the initial knockout blow. Now he is 'The Reem', no longer the Demolition Man whom was a sole destroyer...he is a more focused and disciplined product whom takes his time in the octagon, and thinks more than does.
The Reem's next opponent is a considerable step down from the ruling elite of the heavyweight division, but lack of rank doesn't imply lack of danger...in fact besides the champion Stipe Miocic, Francis Ngannou is the hardest hitting and most promising heavyweight the fans have seen in a very long time.
This will either be a very short, or very long fight. With Alistair, he must be patient, and not rush into anything even glaring from the young Frenchmen or it will be absolute nights out. Francis doesn't have to connect cleanly on Alistair to put him out, and he surely can't rush into the wrestling as The Predator Ngannou has a sturdy base and an intelligent fight mind.
This, along with most fights will come down to the intangibles, the aspects that stats on a sheet of paper don't reveal. The age, the wear and tear, the experience...all of the favor the opponent of one another in special ways. As a fan, and an analyst, I really just see a solid fight. In my mind, The Predator rises to the occasion, and finishes the Reem in the first round...but don't say I didn't tell you so.
