UFC gave them the boot
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Two staples of the UFC’s heavyweight division are no longer on the roster.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos and perennial contender Alistair Overeemhave parted ways with the promotion.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the two heavyweights’ promotional departures following their removal from the UFC rankings Wednesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has not officially announced the moves.
UFC officials did not reply to request for comment by MMA Junkie.
Dos Santos (21-9 MMA, 15-8 UFC) made his promotional debut at UFC 90 in October 2008. He made a statement immediately when he put away Fabricio Werdum with strikes in 80 seconds. The victory kicked off a nine-fight winning streak by “Cigano.”
Included on that run were two title fights: a clinching performance and a title defense. In November 2011, at UFC on FOX 1, Dos Santos finished Cain Velasquez with punches in 64 seconds to become the UFC heavyweight champion. He would follow up that performance with a second-round TKO win over Frank Mir at UFC 146 in May 2012.
Dos Santos lost the belt to Velasquez via unanimous decision in a December 2012 rematch at UFC 155. Following a win over Mark Hunt in May 2013, Dos Santos got his trilogy opportunity but was defeated by Velasquez via TKO at UFC 166 in October 2013.
Over the next seven-plus years, Dos Santos remained a heavyweight contender. From 2018-2019, Dos Santos even established a three-fight winning streak with victories over Blagoi Ivanov, Tai Tuivasa, and Derrick Lewis.
Dos Santos followed up the streak with a four-fight losing skid. Prior to his UFC departure, Dos Santos was finished by strikes in four straight fights – losses to Francis Ngannou, Curtis Blaydes, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Ciryl Gane.
Overeem (47-19 MMA, 13-8 UFC) entered the UFC already an established MMA star who competed in numerous notable promotions including Strikeforce, PRIDE, and DREAM.
In December 2011, Overeem made his promotional debut at UFC 141 and finished Brock Lesnar with a body kick and punches. Over his next four fights, Overeem went 1-3 with TKO losses to Antonio Silva, Travis Browne, and Ben Rothwell.
Overeem turned around his bad luck, however, and rattled off a four-fight winning streak with victories over Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson, Junior Dos Santos, and Andrei Arlovski.
Over the span of his next 11 bouts leading to UFC exit, Overeem would have his ups and downs. Prior to his departure, Overeem won back-to-back fights against Walt Harris and Augusto Sakai before he was finished with punches by Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night 184 on Feb. 6.
Please Overeem go juice and destroy
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I can see them both juicing up and going to PFL, Bellator or ONE.
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All of the Horses in Holland just shuddered. Here come the UBERREEM!!!
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Even though it's definitely time for them to be cut I'm still kind if sad knowing I'll never see either of them in the UFC again.
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Overeem was expensive.
I'd like to see both retire but we all know that's not likely.
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Bignightmare2 -All of the Horses in Holland just shuddered. Here come the UBERREEM!!!
Lol
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Damn, hate to see them go.
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Sad to see but neither of them were going to be serious contenders again. And both were expensive for basically being gatekeepers at this point.
I also expect Arlovski to be cut soon. Might get a little more leeway because of how long he's been in the ufc.
The Destroyer88 -Sad to see but neither of them were going to be serious contenders again. And both were expensive for basically being gatekeepers at this point.
I also expect Arlovski to be cut soon. Might get a little more leeway because of how long he's been in the ufc.
I dropped by to say exactly this. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got decent buyouts.
dinkledorf -Overeem was expensive.
I'd like to see both retire but we all know that's not likely.
Reem to bellator to add another belt to his collection.
2 more reasons John Jones was stalling to move up.
He could have moved up years ago… gee, I wonder why he didn’t.
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Two more legends gone.
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Reem
Jds
Arlovski
K1 grand prix '21
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Bignightmare2 -All of the Horses in Holland just shuddered. Here come the UBERREEM!!!
The era of Ubereem was 10 years ago though... even if he juiced, he’s still too old and too damaged
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WaltJ -The Destroyer88 -Sad to see but neither of them were going to be serious contenders again. And both were expensive for basically being gatekeepers at this point.
I also expect Arlovski to be cut soon. Might get a little more leeway because of how long he's been in the ufc.
I dropped by to say exactly this. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got decent buyouts.
No need for buyout
the ufc can cut them after a L
onepunchJD -2 more reasons John Jones was stalling to move up.
He could have moved up years ago… gee, I wonder why he didn’t.
Jones lives rent-free.
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dinkledorf -Overeem was expensive.
I'd like to see both retire but we all know that's not likely.
yea I think it was a carryover from his strikeforce contract, perhaps? He was getting like, Sylvia (vs Fedor) money every fight…