Overeem released

[clovett]

per InsideMMa

 

[clovett]

DALLAS (July 29, 2011) HDNet’s “Inside MMA” breaks more shocking news concerning StrikeForce™ Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem who “Inside MMA” has learned has received a cut letter and has been released from the promotion.

Sources close to the situation have told “Inside MMA’s” Ron Kruck that Strikeforce™ has exercised its right to eliminate the one remaining fight on Overeem’s contract effective July 22nd.

Overeem will fight next in October in Russia for the promotion United Glory. No word on who his opponent will be.
Also according to the source, Overeem has been dealing with more serious injuries than originally reported, including a broken toe and rib. He also has problems with an elbow.

Overeem has fought through nagging injuries and while set to fight in the StrikeForce™ semi-finals (scheduled for September 10th in Cincinnati) Overeem has stated he still needed more time to recover.

Another issue that StrikeForce™ officials had regarding Overeem’s participation in the tournament is he had only one fight left on his current contract and he would have had to fight twice to win the Grand Prix.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'd like to see Overeem lose by DQ or via cut stoppage to whatever bum he faces in Untied Glory.

WARPATH VILLAREAL, LINEAL HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION

 

[Liquidrob]

LOL

 

[BigBucs]

His last fight didnt do anything for a casual (if that) fan like myself. Stunk the joint up.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

SMH...

 

[SHOGUN]

SMH...

This.

Very disappointing news. Maybe this means he can go straight away to the UFC....? :dontknow:

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

He kinda made his own bed on this one.

I hope that United Glory payday is good. It likely cost him his job.

 

[SHOGUN]

On a positive note, this does mean that there's a higher chance of seeing Overeem/Hari again.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Overeem held the Strikeforce Heavyweight Title for 3 years, 8 months.

In that time, ONE TOTAL TITLE DEFENSE, def. Brett Rogers, who was coming off of a loss.

Is Overeem the best example of a paper champion in the history of MMA?

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Strikeforce really seemed to be going out of their way to get THE REEM over for some title defenses..

 

[EmpireWF]

Reem will sign with UFC late this year or next. Needs to get healthy, not lose in Oct. then get to negotiating.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

I think Ray Mercer has more mma fights the last 3 years than Overeem

 

[EmpireWF]

I think Ray Mercer has more mma fights the last 3 years than Overeem

:lolwut:

 

[SHOGUN]

Sergei might also get be boot. Werdum to be back in? From Hammers Hamil on the UG:

Josh barnett is not a lock as of yet for the tourny as ohio obides with csac and nsac zuffa is trying to smooth things over but been told it can happen but is not guaranteed... Werdum has been told to keep in shape and training cause he will be brought back into the tourny... Heat on sergei for taking that kickboxing match and may get shown the door also if that fight happen lots going on in strikeforce land...

What a way to make the GP a whole bunch of nothing. :smh:

 

[Liquidrob]

So basically overeem has a bad toe, busted ribs, was willing to fight a month later and was cut, sergei now in jeopardy because he might take a fight his contact allows, wooo

Zuffa is the worst thing to happen to mma and the fans always support them over the fighters, this sport is nothing but a sideshow at the top level

UNION

 

[Liquidrob]

Oh, and they ruined the best tournament since pride, congrats

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

From Dave:

Golden Glory & M-1 are looking to cut themselves into all talent deals and UFC feels they are dealing from strength and won't set that precedent. You can imagine the issues if Kharitonov beats Barnett and then takes a fight in October in Moscow, and then gets hurt.

Essentially, Zuffa will insist on exclusivity and will offer money, in some cases very big, to fighters, but they aren't going to cut management into those deals nor allow them to fight elsewhere.

I could see, based on all this, that win or lose, Fedor would be done unless his side plays ball, and Kharitonov and Coenen are also Golden Glory fighters, so unless things change, when their deals are up, I could see similar stuff happening. Coenen's listed purse is something ridiculously little but Coker was paying Golden Glory the real money, kind of like the announced figures for Fedor of $300,000 while M-1 would get $1.2 million or more as consultants or whatever they called it.

 

[Liquidrob]

yeah, they just want to 'cut' all the guys with the non exclusive stuff and get them on the restricted zuffa contracts

The GP is ruined, the 'Showtime wanting a sept GP' angle was a farce, no where has it been said the GP had to be in Septmber, just a show, of course no one will ask Zuffa a tough question about Overeem, very simple really

Reporter: So Overeem was cut because he was hurt and wasnt ready to fight in Sept?

Dana: No, he took another fight in october, that's why

Reporter: Doesnt his contract allow that?

Dana: Well fuck, we don't like that, that's not how we operate

Reporter: So he was cut because he did what his contract said he could do?

Dana: Fuckity Fuck, where is Ariel?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

My take on all of this...

Zuffa is clearly not going to protect the GP ahead of the greater interest of the business. The Zuffa stance has always been exclusivity. They were willing to let these guys play out the Coker deals (see Mousasi, for example), but they obviously didn't like the way Overeem handled himself so just cut bait. They are mad at Kharitonov, and for good reason, because he is taking an outside fight while active in the tournament. The outside fights themselves are not the issues, its the circumstances surrounding the fights.

They were going to give Overeem a fight in either October or November, and they're pissed he took the United Glory booking instead. I can see both sides, but Overeem was clearly playing chicken and Zuffa doesn't fuck around. Myself, I find it hard to sympathize with him.

I'm not happy to see the GP torn apart, but I do see where Zuffa is coming from. Personally, I would like them to bite their tongues on Kharitonov and deal with him after the tournament is over, but at this point with no Overeem (or Fedor) they probably figure nobody gives a shit anyway.

The message is clear. No more of these cushy deals that Coker was strong armed into making. If you want to fight in the biggest org in the world, you must be exclusive.