Conor McGregor's conqueror speaks out
Thursday 12 March 2015 16:05, UK
A celebrated two-sport heavyweight and the last man to defeat 'Notorious' Conor McGregor and have opened up to Sky Sports ahead of UFC 185.
Alistair Overeem, the goliath who has collected MMA and kickboxing accolades without yet conquering the UFC, and Joseph Duffy, who defeated current poster boy McGregor before either built their reputation, both compete this weekend in Dallas, Texas in a card headlined by Anthony Pettis' world title defence against Rafael dos Anjos.
The Dutch colussus has fought a who's who of heavyweights in two fight sports. He meets Roy Nelson on Saturday, but looked back over a storied career that lacks only the UFC title.
Overeem said: There’s so many moments I can be proud of. I’ve defeated a lot of big names and I’ve got a string of belts hanging on my wall. 2010 was my championship year when I defended my Strikeforce title, won a K-1 title and then a DREAM title. I’m also proud of 2011 when I defeated Fabricio Werdum who is now UFC interim heavyweight champ, then beat Brock Lesnar.
The previous two years I beat Mark Hunt, Peter Aerts and Badr Hari in MMA and kickboxing. 2005 was very good, I beat Vitor Belfort in the PRIDE middleweight Grand Prix. I can go back to ’99 when I first fought in MMA, and I started kickboxing aged 17. I’ve not had many easy fights, these are all tough guys.
I recently lost three fights but that’s happened before, I recall it in 2006-07, but if you compete at the top you will sometimes lose. Now I’m focused on Roy Nelson who has weaknesses on the ground and weakness in his stand-up game so I’ll exploit him.
Saying I’m the best heavyweight in the world is extreme but I’m the best version of myself that I can be. Is that good enough to be the best in the world? I’m trying, so we’ll see. I’m 35 soon but I still have a couple of years left that I can do this.
Saying I’m the best heavyweight in the world is extreme but I’m the best version of myself that I can be. Is that good enough to be the best in the world? I’m trying, so we’ll see.
Check out Sky Bet's UFC odds including Pettis v dos Anjos & Conor McGregor v Jose Aldo
The Irish lightweight needed 38 seconds to beat McGregor in 2010 - but while McGregor will now fight for the world title, Duffy's UFC debut arrives against Jake Lindsey.
Duffy said: I remember fighting McGregor well. I recognise the man he is now with the man that I beat. But he’s evolved a lot, he’s improved and so have I. If a second fight with McGregor comes along, I can beat him again.
I would be ignorant not to realise that part of the reason I’m now in the UFC is down to the success over McGregor. That’s a great platform for me to springboard from.
McGregor has broken through and reached a massive fan-base, he’s generated a lot of interest in Irish fighters. I’ve been watching this wanting my own chance in the UFC. Now the time is right and the Irish public are behind me, too.
I wouldn’t say it’s inevitable I’ll fight him again but it’s something fans would be interested in. Fighting in Croke Park or the Aviva Stadium is every Irishman’s dream but I don't want that fight to define me.
