'It Comes Down To The Ego Thing': UFC Legend Explains Hall Of Fame Snub
Alistair Overeem on why he believes he has been left out of the UFC Hall of Fame, his 2021 release, the rejected pay cut and his relationship with Dana White.
MMA veteran Alistair Overeem, renowned for his 47-19 record, has questioned his absence from the UFC Hall of Fame. Despite his service to the promotion over a decade and victories over heavyweight titans Brock Lesnar and Vitor Belfort, Overeem believes the snub is due to UFC President Dana White's personal dislike, referring to it as an "ego thing."
He speculates that White's animosity may stem from a 2011 signing deal that required Lorenzo Fertitta's intervention. Overeem was eventually released after refusing a 50% pay cut, highlighting a lack of personal rapport with White. While he acknowledges a desire for the honor, Overeem states he's not overly concerned, having faced similar circumstances throughout his lengthy career.
He notes this is the first time he's openly discussed the topic. Overeem's perspective on the matter diverges from other Hall of Famers like Donald Cerrone, Wanderlei Silva, and Urijah Faber, who were inducted despite belonging to promotions like Pride, Strikeforce, DREAM, and K-1. He suggests that the list of names in the Hall is not a definitive measure of one's worth, and his own accomplishments, including victories over significant opponents, place him in the same league as those already honored.
Written by urgent.news from Forbes's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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