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In a surprising turn of events, combat sports veteran Alistair Overeem has revealed that he has decided to hang up his gloves and retire from fighting.
The 43-year-old, renowned for his illustrious career in the UFC, K-1, and Strikeforce, made the quiet announcement during an interview with Lovin Dubai. While primarily discussing his nutrition and recent physical changes, Overeem took a moment to confirm that his fighting days are now behind him.
During the interview, Overeem expressed:
"This actually ties into what I want to do because I actually just decided to stop fighting. This is not my thing anymore... It's been 25 years, right? We're going to do other cool stuff now."
After his final UFC appearance in February 2021, where he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Alexander Volkov, Overeem sporadically competed in kickboxing. He had a scheduled bout with Rico Verhoeven that fell through but eventually faced long-time rival Badr Hari in a Glory Kickboxing event last October. Although Overeem emerged victorious in the trilogy fight, the result was later overturned to a no-contest due to a failed drug test, resulting in a one-year suspension.
During the interview with Lovin Dubai, Overeem also shed light on his recent physical transformation and lifestyle choices. The Dutch star explained:
"I've been doing a lot of new things for health. This is my next chapter, promoting health... I became a vegetarian also. I got no desire to eat meat anymore. Meat is not good for you. It negatively affects you. Yes, it tastes delicious. Even now I could still eat meat, but I just choose not to."
Overeem's professional fighting career spans an impressive 24 years, with his debut dating back to 1999. Throughout his journey, he amassed numerous accolades in both MMA and kickboxing, competing for the UFC heavyweight title in 2016, capturing championships in Strikeforce and K-1, and even gracing the legendary PRIDE promotion in Japan. He concludes his remarkable career with an MMA record of 47-19 (1 NC).
As the curtain falls on Overeem's fighting legacy, fans and fellow athletes alike will undoubtedly celebrate the contributions and memories he has gifted to the world of combat sports. While his decision to retire may surprise some, it opens the door to a new chapter in Overeem's life—a chapter focused on promoting health and exploring fresh endeavors beyond the realm of fighting.
As the combat sports community bids farewell to one of its most revered competitors, the legacy of Alistair Overeem will forever remain etched in the annals of mixed martial arts and kickboxing history.