Alistair Overeem Reveals Toughest Fight of His Career—And It's Not Who You Think

Photo: Alistair Overeem (Instagram)

Alistair Overeem has faced some of the biggest names in UFC history, including Francis Ngannou and Brock Lesnar. But when asked about the toughest fight of his career, the Dutch fighter surprised everyone.

Overeem revealed that his hardest opponent was not the heavy hitters like Ngannou or Lesnar, but instead, it was Fabricio Werdum. During an interview on the Jaxxon podcast, Overeem said, "I think Werdum was tough. He’s a guy who has multiple plans, and that’s tricky."

Overeem and Werdum fought three times. Their first match was in 2006 during the PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix, where Werdum won by submission. 

Photo: Alistair Overeem (Instagram)

Overeem bounced back in 2011, winning their rematch by unanimous decision at a Strikeforce event. The final fight between them in 2017 ended with Overeem winning again, giving him a 2-1 edge in their rivalry.

Despite Werdum being his toughest fight, Overeem acknowledged that Francis Ngannou is the hardest puncher he has ever faced. In their 2017 fight, Ngannou knocked Overeem out with a brutal punch, which Overeem called the hardest he has ever been hit.

Ngannou is set to fight again on October 19, when he will challenge Renan Ferreira for the PFL heavyweight title.

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Source: Bloody Elbow