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| The Flying Dutchman took to the air and stopped teammate Andrei Arlovski, Sunday, at home in Holland. Now, he says he's earned a UFC title-shot. |
Heavyweight Alistair Overeem scored his fourth-straight win Sunday, and then called for a title fight in November in New York City on Nov. 12 against the winner of UFC 198’s heavyweight title fight between Fabricio Werdum and Stipe Miocic.
Overeem says he plans on beating the winner and defending the belt in Holland come 2017. "We're going to get that belt in November at Madison Square Garden," the Dutchman told the partisan Rotterdam crowd after stopping Andrei Arlovski in the second round.
Overeem's win came at 1:12 of the second round, from strikes on the ground. He set up that finish with a flying switch front kick (flying crane kick for all you Karate Kid fans out there) to the chin, followed by a left cross to the head of Arlovski.
The former champion fell, at that point, and absorbed ground strikes until the referee stepped-in to call the fight. Up until that point, the contest between the Jackson-Winkeljohn fighters was a close one.
Early in the first period, Arlovski backed Overeem up with punches. "The Pitbull" went high-and-low with punches, as well as connected with a knee to the head.
Still, Overeem covered-up expertly and survived the onslaught. He then shot for a takedown, which Arlovski defended.
Arlovski looked for his own takedown against the cage but ate knees to the body and head while in the clinch. Overeem landed a knee from the plum clinch, and then a hard left kick to the body.
Overeem followed up with leg kicks and then an outside trip take down from the clinch with about a minute left in the round. From on top inside Arlovski's full guard, Overeem connected with short elbows to the chest and a big right punch to the head.
Overeem stayed cautious early in the second round, staying on the outside and switching stances with his hands low, while throwing feints. The kickboxing world champion landed a one-two punch combo to the head, then another good kick to the body.
Arlovski fired-back with his own punches, backing Overeem up once again. "The Demolition Man" then walked Arlovski down for a few steps before switching stances in mid-jump and connecting his left foot to Arlovski's chin.
A hard straight left hand to the head followed, and Arlovski went down, hard. Overeem followed him to the mat, raining down punches, and came up limping.
A medical official came in and reset Overeem's dislocated toe, afterwards, he said, and he was able to celebrate with his stadium full of countrymen and women. The two teammates and bitter rivals shook hands and shared a few words, afterwards, and Overeem moves forward.
The loss is Arlovski's second-straight stoppage defeat and drops his record to 25-12, overall. Overeem improves his mark to 41-14.
source : www.foxsports.com