But after two decades competing at the highest level, Overeem is only interested in taking fights that will improve his position in the title chase.
He’s a competitor, and after all this time, he’s still very much in love with the sport and competing at the highest level.
“Yes, I realize I’m 40 years old now, so the end is coming, time is running out, but that’s fine; I’ve had a beautiful career,” said Overeem, who has won three of his last four outings and enters Saturday’s showdown with Sakai after securing a second-round stoppage win over Walt Harris in mid-May. “So now I’m just enjoying it every step of the way.
“I just love the sport. I love the lifestyle and so, automatically, you’re going to keep doing what you’re doing,” he continued. “If you hate it, you’re going to change, but I just love the sport and the adventure that it brings because it’s traveling, it’s meeting people.”
In addition to competing around the globe, Overeem has been somewhat nomadic when it comes to training; someone who has never been afraid to venture to different gyms, switch camps, and seek out the best opportunities possible, even if has meant being somewhat itinerant at times.
It seems, however, that Overeem has found a home in the Rocky Mountains, working alongside the all-star cast of coaches and fighters that make up the Elevation Fight Team.
He connected with the group shortly after losing to one of the team’s stars, heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes, who defeated Overeem by third-round stoppage at UFC 225 three summers ago in his hometown of Chicago. Soon after, Overeem ventured to Denver to work with his recent opponent, and he’s been training there ever since.