Alistair Overeem and Stefan Struve, two of the most feared strikers in the heavyweight division, verbally agreed on Wednesday to throw down at Fight Night Phoenix on Dec. 13 - the UFC’s first trip to Arizona.
Overeem is looking to get back on track after a disappointing loss to Ben Rothwell at Fight Night Foxwoods. “The Reem” is 1-3 in his last four fights, but is confident he’ll be able to return to his championship form next time he steps inside the Octagon.
“I'm still in a great place," Overeem recently said in an interview with MMA Fighting. "I think I really found myself at Greg Jackson's. I like the people and I know, I just know, that all those months of work that I put in are going to come out. I know what I'm doing in the gym...I just know that it's in the right direction.”
After being forced to pull out of his last fight against Matt Mitrione at UFC 175, this will be Struve’s first Octagon appearance since March of 2013. The Dutch heavyweight will compete for the first time since he overcame a career-threatening heart condition.
A second bout was also added to the Phoenix card on Wednesday, which pits Derek Brunson against UFC veteran Ed Herman in a middleweight tilt. Jamie Varner vs. Drew Dober is the other scheduled bout on the card.
Tickets go on sale for Fight Night Phoenix on Oct. 10.
