UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem is set to return to the Octagon on Sept. 5th when he faces Ben Rothwell at UFC Fight Night 50, but this time something will be different. While much of his more recent U.S. run was done as part of the Blackzilians camp, now Overeem returns to the cage as part (for now) as a student of the famed duo of Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn in Albuquerque, N.M.
While things clearly didn't work out Overeem in Florida with the Blackzilians, the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion - along with the rest of the Jackson's camp - report everything has been smooth sailing once he showed up to train.
I think it has to do with chemistry, Overeem told Ariel Helwani on Monday's The MMA Hour. And chemistry has a lot to do with that mentality. Some people just mix better with other people. From the get go - and you're aiming for the Blackzilians, I think - the mentality was different, so then the chemistry is not optimal.
It's not their fault, Overeem explained. It's not my fault. It's just the way it is. Sometimes you meet people and the chemistry's not all there, but still you're kind of in a marriage because you're training with them on your team. But when the chemistry's not optimal, you'll never get optimal results.
As soon as I came here with a blank sheet, I was just myself. I knew, 'You're coming into a new group.' I've been training for 20 years now, so I'd had my fair share of gyms. You just have to be relaxed. Give it some time, show yourself. There's other people in the gym, other stars. Just observe a little. Take it easy. And that's exactly what I've been doing here. The chemistry, people are a little more like the mentality that I have. So, it works.
http://www.mmafighting.com
Related Fight Posts
- 2014/07/20 -- Savannah Marshall targets Commonwealth Games boxing gold to help put 2012 Olympic heartbreak behind her
Savannah Marshall is bidding for Commonwealth boxing gold to help put her 2012 Olympic misery behind her but kno... - 2014/07/19 -- UFC Fight Night – Albuquerque: Henderson vs. Khabilov Tickets on Sale Today
UFC Fight Night 43 – Albuquerque, Tingley Coliseum Tickets on Sale Today
Today, at 10am MT, Ticketmaster.com wi... - 2014/07/19 -- Erik Perez added to UFC FIght Night 43 In Albuquerque, Matched With Bryan Caraway
The debut event for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in Albuquerque is coming together slowly but surely... - 2014/07/20 -- Former Bantam Champ Cruz Returns This Fall
The wait is over for former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Following nearly three years away from the ... - 2014/07/20 -- All Eyes on McGregor in Ireland
It’s quite a thing to see an athlete from a niche sport breakthrough into a nation’s broader cultural consciousn... - 2014/07/04 -- Danger Zone at Broadripple Place
The Danger Zone has found a consistent location for their amateur tournaments. Broadripple Place has hosted the ... - 2014/07/19 -- Andrade to Canelo: The line forms behind me
WBO jr. middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) says he is the man to beat at 154 pound... - 2014/07/19 -- Will Brooks Hopes Lightweight Title Unification Bout Accompanies New Bellator Regime
Like much of the mixed martial arts community, Will Brooks is intrigued by the possibilities of the new Bellator... - 2014/07/18 -- Maximo Blanco Set to Face Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night in Japan
Two featherweights fresh off victories will meet at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on Sept. 20, when Max... - 2014/07/04 -- RSF Packs Them In
BELLEVILLE, IL--There are times that, despite a multitude of small short comings, the big event is a hug... - 2014/07/20 -- Ex-Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz to Return Against Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 178
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is set to return to the cage after nearly three years on the she...