...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos commented on potential challenger Alistair Overeem again this week, saying he didn't think the Dutch striker deserved a shot at the title following his failed drug test earlier this year.
Overeem responded to that comment, and what he continues to believe is dos Santos' fear of fighting him, in an interview with MixFight.nl.
"Well Junior dos Santos says all kind of things that don't really make sense," Overeem said. "First he begged to Dana White he wanted to fight me, so as a fighter I accept such a challenge right away. Now he's saying that I don't deserve a title fight. He has to make up his mind as he's changing his story all the time."
"The same stuff he was saying about me going to the school of Chael Sonnen. I never made the fight between us personal and I never bad mouthed him, the only thing I said was that I think he's afraid of me which I think he still is haha."
Still, despite the UFC eying an immediate title shot upon his licensure this December, Overeem's still ready and willing to return much sooner than he would if he waited out the shot.
"When I signed with the UFC I could [have] easily [gone] for the title shot right away but I chose to fight Brock Lesnar so in no means I'm talking myself into a title shot," Overeem said. "If the UFC wants me to fight for the title I'm available and if they decide to let me fight someone else first I'm also fine with that. I'm a fighter and I will get my chance sooner or later."
Penick's Analysis: Overeem's mischaracterizing dos Santos' comments, because he's never said he wouldn't fight him. Indeed, on UFC Tonight on Tuesday, dos Santos said, "I would love to fight with this guy to put him in his place." He just doesn't think Overeem deserves the shot. But Overeem will take it how he wants to take it, dos Santos will react how he wants to react, and the back and forth will continue until the two of them get into the cage. It's probably going to happen sometime in 2013, and then they can finally get this feud behind them.
[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.