I keep seeing this said on here and I think people just have a wrong memory of Overeem being primarily a striker who got KOd too many times and decided to start incorporating grappling more. They think this because he's been able to beat the last few fighters by ground and pound.
Overeem has always been a well-rounded fighter who utilized all his skills in every fight since the beginning of his prime years. Going all the way back to when he fought Kharitinov. Within the first 30 seconds or so, he tried to clinch and initiate a takedown. He would try several unsuccessful TDs before getting KTFO.
The first thing he did against Paul Buentello was shoot for a TD. He took Hunt down and submitted him. He took Cro Cop down with this thing he likes to do where he spins them out of the clinch out of balance onto the ground. Then he stayed on top of Cro Cop for the whole round.
He did the same throw against Brett Rogers then dominated and TKOd him on the ground. He tried that same technique unsuccessfully against Browne and Rothwell. The reason he got hurt vs Rothwell was because he shot for a takedown and got clipped. He threw Bigfoot and dominated him on the ground for a whole round. He shot for a TD against Struve and TKOd him on the ground. He tried to take Ngannou down.
Overeem has fought nearly the same way since he returned to heavyweight. The only difference is that he gradually got better then got worse with age. He liked to fight from medium to long range. When the fight gets close he clinches and knees then always looks for some kind of throw/trip/takedown. That's the way he has always fought.
A big difference is that some of these recent HWs that he is fighting just aren't agile. When Overeem tripped Pavlovich, he fell like a tree and landed with a thud. He just laid on his back and did nothing while Overeem stood over him. I mean, he laid square, flat on his back. He didn't have the agility to scramble. He had the space to but he couldn't.
Sakai just didn't know what to do when Overeem got him down.
Overeem has been able to stay successful because he is well rounded. The real contenders will always beat him. He has not changed his style that much. It's just that the lesser guys are just easier to take down and hold down.
Overeem has always been a well-rounded fighter who utilized all his skills in every fight since the beginning of his prime years. Going all the way back to when he fought Kharitinov. Within the first 30 seconds or so, he tried to clinch and initiate a takedown. He would try several unsuccessful TDs before getting KTFO.
The first thing he did against Paul Buentello was shoot for a TD. He took Hunt down and submitted him. He took Cro Cop down with this thing he likes to do where he spins them out of the clinch out of balance onto the ground. Then he stayed on top of Cro Cop for the whole round.
He did the same throw against Brett Rogers then dominated and TKOd him on the ground. He tried that same technique unsuccessfully against Browne and Rothwell. The reason he got hurt vs Rothwell was because he shot for a takedown and got clipped. He threw Bigfoot and dominated him on the ground for a whole round. He shot for a TD against Struve and TKOd him on the ground. He tried to take Ngannou down.
Overeem has fought nearly the same way since he returned to heavyweight. The only difference is that he gradually got better then got worse with age. He liked to fight from medium to long range. When the fight gets close he clinches and knees then always looks for some kind of throw/trip/takedown. That's the way he has always fought.
A big difference is that some of these recent HWs that he is fighting just aren't agile. When Overeem tripped Pavlovich, he fell like a tree and landed with a thud. He just laid on his back and did nothing while Overeem stood over him. I mean, he laid square, flat on his back. He didn't have the agility to scramble. He had the space to but he couldn't.
Sakai just didn't know what to do when Overeem got him down.
Overeem has been able to stay successful because he is well rounded. The real contenders will always beat him. He has not changed his style that much. It's just that the lesser guys are just easier to take down and hold down.
