Then there were the theorists, the speculators who saw that Brock's unfortunate situation could open a door for a new heavyweight kingpin. And as you might expect, Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem was the first name brought up in the discussion as a man who could potentially fill the void that Lesnar may leave if he has a prolonged absence from the sport.
I'm not going to speculate on the status of the contracts under the Strikeforce banner. The fact of the matter is that we have no idea who is transferable and who is bound to only fighting on Showtime. Overeem, who is scheduled to battle Fabricio Werdum on June 18th, must not only win that fight, but also fight in the semifinals and finals of the heavyweight grand prix, assuming he continues to win. The timetable for the completion of the tournament and a possible superfight between the UFC champion and Strikeforce champion is unknown.
What exactly is driving the speculation that Alistair Overeem is the perfect fit to replace Brock Lesnar as a staple in the UFC's plan of world domination? The most obvious reason is the combination of Overeem's appealing physical features and his dominant style of fighting at his new home in the heavyweight division. Overeem has become a human highlight reel that any promotion in the world would love to have under their wing, and Zuffa has the opportunity to thrust him into the spotlight.
As BloodyElbow.com's own Mike Fagan pointed out last week, Lesnar's absence from the pay-per-view fold along with the additional injuries to Frankie Edgar, Jon Jones, and Cain Velasquez has put the UFC's growth in jeopardy. The UFC would have to do big business this year, averaging roughly 660,000 buys per event if the UFC were to run 10 more events this year. Lesnar is a huge reason why that number won't be reached, and in the larger scheme of things -- Lesnar may not be headlining many more events in the sport.
Overeem could serve as the perfect replacement. Lesnar's crossover appeal from his pro-wrestling days along with being one of the very first fighters in the heavyweight division to dawn a freakish physique at the 265 lb. weight limit on a major stage are advantages that he had when he moved up through the ranks early in his career. Overeem doesn't have those luxuries. He's virtually unknown to casual fans, and he has no crossover appeal of any kind in North America. There aren't millions of K-1 fans chomping at the bit to see Overeem fight in the United States.
But Overeem does possess the Adonis-like physique, even more prominent and built than Brock Lesnar. He is a monster inside the cage, eliminating his opponents in brutal fashion quickly and effectively. And as we all know, the heavyweight division, despite the tendency for many of its fights to be technically challenged or lacking endurance, has a historic appeal to combat sports' fans. Fans will gravitate toward Overeem if he can produce similar results to what he's done recently on a major stage like the UFC.
Overeem can also play the public relations game. He's articulate, speaks well, can talk the talk to build a fight, and is a likable figure outside of the ring. He might just be a better version of what many fans are calling Jon Jones.
In our own little fantasy world where Zuffa immediately transfers Alistair Overeem to the UFC, he would be the perfect fighter to inject into the mix atop the UFC's heavyweight division. Questions remain however. Can Overeem hack it against better competition? Can he overcome the adversity that he'll meet in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix? We'll find out by the end of 2011. If we're all singing the praises of Overeem in January of next year and the Lesnar situation worsens, is it unfathomable that the UFC takes advantage? If it's possible, the UFC would be crazy not to pounce on what could be a huge star from the promotion.