Alistair Overeem on fighting at 40: I couldnt see myself doing something different

April 14, 2024

Alistair Overeem, 40, has done almost everything you can do in mixed martial arts. The Netherlands native is the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion, DREAM heavyweight champion, K-1 World Grand Prix champion and competed for the UFC’s belt in 2016.

On Saturday he’ll look to get one step closer to another heavyweight title shot when he takes on Alexander Volkov in the main event in Las Vegas. Ahead of that bout he spoke with The Athletic about his life as a mixed martial artist.

You’re 40 years old and still competing at a high level. What would you say are the secrets to your success?

Reason No. 1, I really enjoy being a fighter. I really enjoy the training, the development, everything that comes with it. That is my biggest motivation. I do notice in getting older that recovery is going down, but I just really enjoy it. Love it. I couldn’t see myself doing something different.

Would you say your training regimen is much different than when you were a younger fighter?

Definitely different. There’s a lot more thought process involved, a lot more direction in the training. Everything is for a reason as training has progressed and become more professional. I have to say I also have great coaches and learn a lot from them. The chemistry of the team is awesome. So I’m still, at 40, improving.

Do you have any tips for your younger self?

There’s a couple tips. I would say always keep developing and keep getting better because there’s always going to be weaknesses and new things to learn. So if you have the mindset of always growing, always learning, always getting better you’re in the right spot.

Advice No. 2 is to take good care of your body. That’s kind of a broad topic, because that’s diet, but that’s also massages, that’s also stretching, that’s also injury prevention, that’s also proper strength and conditioning training. If your body is holding up, you can go in every direction with it. If your body’s broken down, tired or injured, of course, you’re limited. Those two pieces of advice are good everywhere you go. Any direction.

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Looking back at the beginning of your career, how exactly did you get into fighting?

My brother (Valentijn) took me to the gym for me to learn to defend myself and to learn more discipline. I had him to look up to, he was four years older. I just kept going and didn’t really like it at first but then after a year or so I kind of got good at it. You start beating up on other people. I kind of liked this lifestyle, right? Independent. Kind of had money. (My brother) was a fighter as well, so I just followed in his footsteps.

Who would you say were your biggest influences as a younger fighter?

My brother was a big influence. But also local fighters and fighters like Vitor Belfort or Igor Vovchanchyn. I really looked up to them when I was like 16, 17, 18 and they were cage fighting and Vitor was already in the UFC. They were a huge influence. It was funny because years later I would face them and fight them in the PRIDE Grand Prix. That’s why I thought adding them to the list (of opponents) would be interesting because I was really looking up to them.

I know you have a long history with Vitor. What was it like competing against an idol?

That was very strange. Very strange. That was surreal. It was weird because I looked up to him. But then again, it’s also business, right? Even though you look up to him, have seen him many times and now you’re facing him, it’s kind of like a validation of your own accomplishments and level. So it was cool.

Do you have a favorite fight in your career?

I have multiple moments but I think the two fights with Badr Hari were awesome. I think the Brock Lesnar fight was awesome. I think both the Vitor (Belfort) and Igor Vovchanchyn fights were awesome. The Peter Aerts fights, both of them were awesome. The first one, I fought a three-time K-1 winner and beat him, gaining entry to the final eight. The second time when I beat him I actually became K-1 champion.

You have 25 knockout wins in your MMA career. Is there a favorite finish that stands out?

Brock. A lot of things were going on at that time. I moved to the States, it was crazy with fans. The fight happens where we’re striking, I’m landing some knees. Visibly he’s hurting and I’m landing some punches and then finally I finished him with a liver kick. That was the end of Brock.

Alistair Overeem finished Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in 2011. (Donald Miralle/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

You’ve knocked a lot of people out but have also been knocked out a lot yourself. Do you worry about what that could mean after fighting?

I’m not too worried. I don’t think fighters think like that. People are usually in the moment. But I pay a lot of attention to recovery, to diet and I’m still 100 percent. But I think there’s going to be fighters that are not doing all that stuff.

Looking back, do you have any regrets on anything?

No, I have no regrets.

You wouldn’t have done anything differently in losses?

No.

This weekend’s fight against Volkov is a big one. What would a win mean for you?

A win will get me closer to the title. After this win I can start talking about the belt again. That’s just my focus: winning this fight and then whatever comes after, comes after.

(Top photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

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