Alistair Overeem vs. Todd Duffee

Strikeforce and K-1 champion Alistair Overeem(33-11) will face exiled UFC prospect Todd Duffee(6-1) at Dynamite!! 2010.

5th ranked heavyweight Alistair Overeem’s reputation continues to grow as the most devastating striker in combat sports. Though many question Overeem’s ranking due to fighting lackluster competition, his focus has been on K-1, which has proven to be more more lucrative than his MMA career. Overeem has accepted this fight, only a few weeks after winning the K-1 title, so his conditioning could be questionable coming off the holiday break, though his camp claimed that Overeem got right back to work in expectation of a fight at Dynamite!!

Todd Duffee(ranked 29th) has balls, that’s all that can be said about the improbable matchup being presented to fans. Duffee had just announced his intentions to fight journeyman Abe Wagner, when news broke about a possible match with Overeem. Duffee’s release from the UFC garnered plenty of conspiracy theories, but putting those aside, Duffee is one of the top prospects in the heavyweight division.

Every advantage seems to lean towards Alistair, but something that may not, are the desire and preparation of both fighters coming into this fight. Overeem’s focus has been kickboxing. He’s coming off the biggest feat of his career and now accepts a fight on short notice against a 6-1 fighter. Overeem is either so confident in his striking skills or may just be unaware of Duffee’s own knockout power to accept this fight. This is a huge risk with little reward for Overeem. If this fight was in Strikeforce it would make more sense, but the fact that this fight will be taking place in Japan and few mainstream fans will be watching is quite the risky move. Duffee has the capability to knock Overeem out like he did Tim Hague, but the problem with that happening is that Overeem has a way way more chance of doing the same to Duffee. Overeem is just too strong and talented for an inexperienced Duffee at this stage their careers.