Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Alistair Overeem has announced his retirement from kickboxing and MMA.
The 43-year-old Overeem underwent a significant physical transformation over the past year, looking noticeably smaller than his previous gigantic self. After returning to fighting briefly at Glory: Collision 4 last October, which resulted in a no-contest, he’s decided to move on from fighting and embark on a new chapter.
During his prime, Overeem was one of the most recognizable figures in the MMA heavyweight scene. After making a name for himself in Pride and Dream, he signed with the UFC in 2011 following the Strikeforce merger. While he had won titles in multiple promotions before, he couldn’t quite replicate his earlier success in the UFC. After a long and successful career, he’s chosen to retire and explore new interests.
Alistair Overeem Shifts His Focus From Fighting to Politics
In a recent Instagram post, Overeem said he’s retiring and talked about what he’ll do next.
Overeem had a record of 47 wins, 19 losses, and 1 draw in MMA. He even won the K-1 World Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2010.
He made a big splash in the UFC with a strong victory over former champion Brock Lesnar in his UFC 141 debut. Over his UFC career, he had some wins and losses but got a title shot at UFC 203 against Stipe Miocic.
Before leaving the UFC, he won four out of his last six fights, with his last win in Sept. 2020 against Augusto Sakai.
Now, Overeem is entering the world of politics, following in the footsteps of other former UFC stars like BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz, and Wanderlei Silva.
“Martial arts legend Alistair Overeem trades the ring for the political arena,” he wrote. “Together with #BVNL he will fight the real battles for the future of the Netherlands. We are proud to have him by our side!”
Vechtsportlegende Alistair Overeem ruilt de ring in voor de politieke arena. Samen met #BVNL zal hij de echte gevechten aangaan voor de toekomst van Nederland. Wij zijn trots om hem aan onze zijde te hebben! #OvereemVoorBVNLhttps://t.co/SM1cBP8nd2
— Wybren van Haga (@WybrenvanHaga) October 4, 2023
