Former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem is hoping to add the UFC Heavyweight title to his resume before he wraps up his career.
This past weekend, Overeem defeated Walt Harris in the main event of UFC Fight Night 172 and following his TKO win, the 40-year-old is hoping that his latest victory will be the start of getting another opportunity at the UFC Heavyweight title (Transcript courtesy of MMA Junkie):
“We’re still hunting for the title,” Overeem told reporters at the post-fight news conference.”I would say also I’m in the last phase of my career, so those two things are on my mind: Finish up the career, and one more run at the title.”
Despite suffering a loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik back in December, Overeem has won three out of his last four fights, besting Sergei Pavlovich (via TKO at UFC Fight Night 141) and Alexey Oleynik (via TKO at UFC Fight Night 149). The last time the heavyweight received an opportunity at the 235-pound belt was against Stipe Miocic at UFC 203. That bout ended with a first-round TKO in favor of Miocic.
Overeem is currently ranked at No. 8 within the heavyweight division, so the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion does have some ways to go before getting another title opportunity for the prestigious belt.