Alistar Overeem reveals the toughest fight of his career and it's not Francis Ngannou or Brock Lesnar

19/08/2024 20:06

In his esteemed career, Alistair Overeem has gone head-to-head with some of the greatest fighters in UFC history, but one person stands out from the pack.

The Dutch titan has revealed the legend that gave him the toughest fight of his entire run in the crazy world of mixed martial arts.

Alistair Overeem says Fabricio Werdum was his hardest fight

Alistair Overeem went toe-to-toe with a plethora of UFC icons, defeating the likes of Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt.

He also shared the cage with two of the greatest of all time in the form of Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou. Yet neither of these top the London-born athlete’s list of the best competitors he’s been in with.

As far as Overeem is concerned, nobody made for a more difficult challenge than Fabricio Werdum.

During an interview on the Jaxxon podcast, he explained: "I think Werdum was tough. He's a guy who has multiple plans, and that's tricky.

WOW: Joe Rogan goes viral for his live reaction to watching Dricus Du Plessis retain his belt at UFC 305

The 44-year-old added: "I fought him three times. He surprised me in the first one. I had just come out of surgery and was not 100 per cent. Okay, that's an excuse.

"Still, he got me there and got a lot of confidence from that fight.

"In the second fight, he was talking so much smack. That was a little hurdle."

The pair of icons first clashed in the opening round of the PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2006.  

On that occasion, the Brazilian won via kimura inside four minutes. Five years later, the former K1 world champion secured his redemption at a Strikeforce event, claiming the victory via unanimous decision.

In 2017, Overeem picked up his second win, again on the scorecards, finishing the trilogy with a 2-1 advantage.

Alistair Overeem says Francis Ngannou is the heaviest puncher he’s ever faced

While the kickboxing icon regards Werdum as the toughest task of his career, he understandably claims Ngannou is the hardest puncher.

In their collision back in 2017, the Cameroonian rendered him unconscious with possibly the most brutal left hand the UFC has ever seen.

In an interview with talkSPORT, he said: "The heaviest puncher ever? Actually, yes. Francis Ngannou."

The Predator will return to action on October 19 when he challenges Renan Ferreira for the PFL heavyweight title.

Scary: Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson terrifies streamer Ac7ionman during intense encounter