Alistair Overeem withdraws from the Strikeforce Heavyweight GP

[chadsexington]

Let me be very clear...it doesn't look like he's too injured to fight. It doesn't look like he's been removed by Zuffa for safety reasons. It doesn't look like he's been nursing an long term problem that's crept up. No...the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Champion has withdrawn from the Heavyweight Tournament because...

...he "wasn't prepared to accept the timing of the bout." Sorry you only had 3 months to stay at the same weight and train for the best fighter you've fought since you groin shotted Cro Cop into a no contest 3 years ago. This is a realized turning point...I may like Tito Ortiz and Pat Lafontaine more than Alistair Overeem.

Story

 

[cards-gotta-go]

C'mon Matt... it's about money and nothing else.

 

[chadsexington]

C'mon Matt... it's about money and nothing else.

He's under a contract with Strikeforce, and not the UFC. Strikeforce pays quite handsomely if you're a decent name. They probably operated at a loss before the UFC purchased them based on their fighter payouts.

Sounds like he has a nagging toe injury and asked for an October bout, but was denied due to Strikeforce's contractual obligations to Showtime.

If this is all true, I've backed off a bit based on what I said last night...he's slightly above Tito and Pat Lafontaine again

 

[canucksfreak19]

I wouldn't be sur[prised if this was a Nick Diaz type of situation where he comes up with this reason to not fight in hopes of moving straight over to the UFC, just like Nick with the Jeff Lacy boxing match. Either way Dan Cormier in.