Why do I remember Overeem representing the UK, not Holland?

[Da Killa]

...I know he is born and raised in Holland, but I just seem to remember him representing the UK in the UFC.

Kind of awkward to then "come home" to your countrymen and expect them to get behind you, imo.

 

[The Natural Born Runner]

Did he ever properly claim UK?

Man was born in Hounslow, I find that so funny lol.

 

[Headkicktoleg]

If you think that's awkward the UFC has Cain represent Mexico and he's never even lived there. Hell he won't even train there if his championship depended on it

 

[Da Killa]

 

[Lenny4Guvnor]

Was he actually representing the entire United Kingdom, or did they just use the English or Union flag on his introduction to denote where he was born?

The country in which he was born is just a minor fact, the country or nation he chooses to represent is his own decision and is a lot more significant, although if he does identify as Dutch and chooses to represent The Netherlands, that still won't stop the English or Union flag being used to indicate his place of birth.

 

[Peteyandjia]

Overeem was born in England and stayed there until 6, then went to Netherlands and was raised the rest of the way there. He can claim both if he wants. Who gives a shit.

 

[Leinster Rugby]

He represents the horses of both nations

 

[Grijswaarde]

Lol Oveem basically fought half his career in Holland, and as far as i know always represented our country. He's our boy TS, make no mistake about it.

Edit: apart from the Brock fight i guess.

 

[Which Doctor]

Top 5 "Most Dutch" fighters, IMO -

1. Hoost
2. Aerts
3. Sapp
4. L. Garcia
5. Overeem

 

[mst-dot]

his mother is dutch. like visciously traditionally dutch
he speaks english like a dutch person
he's more dutch than anthing else

 

[Da Killa]

Lol Oveem basically fought half his career in Holland, and as far as i know always represented our country. He's our boy TS, make no mistake about it.

Edit: apart from the Brock fight i guess.

Haha, its all good then. I just thought it was a bit strange, I didn't know he was born in the UK, but knew his father lived there.

I think these things can matter if you want people of your nation to get behind you. I don't think Conor would get the same support in Ireland if he represented Scotland.

 

[GranNaniwa]

In the UFC the flag is supposed represent where the fighter is born, not which country he represents. Before the UFC Overeem always used a Dutch flag and he even used to fight in orange shorts.
I guess it's also convenient for the UFC since they want to break into the UK market so badly, but don't have a lot of British stars.

 

[brickhands]

i thought he was from bangladesh

 

[Iroh]

UFC just states where someone is born, where they fight from, and sometimes via what other place if they just moved for a camp or something.

Like Overeem was born in England to a Dutch mother and a Jamaican father, and for the most part grew up in Holland. So that's not what he chooses to represent, it's just a fact the UFC chooses to display. Then they state where he's training from, which would be Alberquerque and then Bruce or Goldie will tell it's "via Amsterdam", as that's where he normally is based.

 

[Supatune]

Just UFC marketing. Dutch mother, was raised for most of his life in Netherlands and identifies as Dutch.

 

[Troublesome10]

One UFC graphic doesn't mean he was "representing" the UK. He was born there and that's that.

 

[BeeCee]

...I know he is born and raised in Holland, but I just seem to remember him representing the UK in the UFC.

Kind of awkward to then "come home" to your countrymen and expect them to get behind you, imo.

He was actually born in Hounslow England

 

[dim_]

In the UFC the flag is supposed represent where the fighter is born, not which country he represents. Before the UFC Overeem always used a Dutch flag and he even used to fight in orange shorts.
I guess it's also convenient for the UFC since they want to break into the UK market so badly, but don't have a lot of British stars.

You know there are more GB fighters in the ufc than most other nations

Think only us, brazil, canada and Russia have more.





Oh. And overeem is dutch (coming from a Brit)

 

[Grijswaarde]

Haha, its all good then. I just thought it was a bit strange, I didn't know he was born in the UK, but knew his father lived there.

I think these things can matter if you want people of your nation to get behind you. I don't think Conor would get the same support in Ireland if he represented Scotland.

Agreed, but i think basically everyone in Holland considers him Dutch, so he will have the whole venue behind him tomorrow. I basically live next to Ahoy, i should know

 

[juncito]

You may think that because he bailed out on his coaches/training partners, kinda like Dillashaw did.

Bas Rutten was in the media bashing him for it too. Maybe that's when he was repping elsewhere.