Alistair Overeem plans to finish Stefan Struve in 30 seconds or less

**Soulbringer320** · 10-12-2014, 13:19

A first-round knockout won’t be good enough for Alistair Overeem at UFC on FOX 13. He wants to finish Stefan Struve in the opening 30 seconds.
Overeem has suffered losses in three of his past four fights, all by knockout. Although he controlled the action in those bouts, Overeem still eventually came out on the wrong end.
From Overeem’s (37-14 MMA, 2-3 UFC) perspective, Struve (25-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) is the perfect opponent to help him get back to his winning ways.
“I’m really not that impressed by him,” Overeem said on the UFC on FOX 13 “Road to the Octagon” special (watch the full “Road to the Octagon” episode). “I’m a striker, and I like to knock people out. I’m going to knock him out in the first 30 seconds.”
UFC on FOX 13 takes place Saturday at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix. Overeem vs. Struve takes place on the FOX-televised main card following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Overeem most recently suffered a first-round knockout loss to Ben Rothwell at UFC Fight Night 50 in September. As has been the case in all of Overeem’s UFC defeats, he was thoroughly dismantling his opponent before getting caught with a blow that knocked him unconscious.
With more than 50 pro fights to his name, the 34-year-old has been forced to battle through difficult stretches in the past. Because of that, he said he knows how to turn the tide and what changes must be made.
“I know myself, I’ve had setbacks before, but I fight through them,” Overeem said. “There are always going to be critical people. They have all the right to be critical. It’s my right to not give a damn. You keep your back straight, chin on your chest, and do the best you can.”
One of the changes Overeem’s made is adjusting his training environment. He joined the respect Team Jackson-Winkeljohn academy in Albuquerque, N.M., earlier this year, and the bout with Struve will be his second with the team.
Overeem’s first fight with the team obviously didn’t go as planned. Now that he’s settled in and feeling at home, though, he said he feels the improvements.
“We’ve corrected a lot of mistakes, and I’ve noticed my focus is really getting sharp again,” Overeem said. “I feel more focused and better prepared. I’ve evolved. That’s all focused on learning and getting better. In this sport you need to keep going up. You need to improve.”
Overeem’s UFC tenure has failed to live up to expectations thus far, but UFC on FOX 13 could mark a new beginning for “The Reem.” He wants to put his past failures in the rearview mirror, and he thinks a quick knockout of Struve will be the best remedy.
“My thing is, I want to win. I’m a winner,” he said. “Why don’t you win? Is that because I don’t work hard and put the effort in? That’s not it. I know I put the effort and the energy in and do my best.
“I can’t wait until fight day. I am a striker and I do like to knock people out. I want to knock him out in the first 30 seconds. I’m a mean motherf-cker, and it’s going to come out in the fight.”

**Kemal** · 10-12-2014, 13:44