Alistair Overeem Teaches Badr Hari a Lesson

Alistair Overeem made good on his promise to teach Moroccan bad boy Badr Hari a lesson at K-1: Premium Dynamite 2008 on New Years Eve at the Saitama Super Arena.

Overeem had the last word - blowing away Hari with a superb display of striking. For an MMA fighter, Overeem looked plenty confident on his feet, getting through with a hurtful left straight punch and closing to work the body, all the while staying smart with his evasions. An Overeem knee caught Hari hard on the chin, and a quick left straight follow-up deposited him on the canvas. Hari beat the count, but Overeem stepped in again to show the down was no fluke, planting a powerful left hook to drop Hari. The referee took one look at the felled fighter and immediately started waving his arms.

The “Demolition Man” said afterwards:

“Badr Hari challenged me and we agreed to two fights: one with K-1 rules and one with MMA. This was the K-1 fight. He's a great athlete, but he has no respect. No respect for fighters, for other people, and especially for DREAM fighters. I think that's not good. That's why I don't like him.”

Overeem was asked if it was even worth fighting Hari again under DREAM rules after such a comprehensive victory under K-1 rules.

“My management and FEG both agreed on it, and he challenged me. A deal is deal. Let's just see if he shows up for the DREAM fight.”

The K-1 fighters came off second best in clashes with MMA fighters on the night. When asked what he thought about that, Badr Hari responded:

“A fighter is a fighter. I don't see it as MMA vs. K-1, I just see it as one fighter against another fighter. Today was their lucky day and I don't think it says that MMA is stronger than K-1.

I was in a big tournament just a few weeks ago so it is very difficult to stay focused. I took this fight because I like fighting, but it was too difficult to stay focused in such a short period of time. That's why I don't think I'll be fighting in the Dynamite show any more [because I plan to be in the K-1 tournament final again next year].

There won't be an MMA fight in the near future. I'm a stand-up fighter and that's what I do. I'll be focusing on stand-up.”

This latest victory has given Overeem a huge boost. In an interview with dreamfighters.com - he made it clear that he is keen to be involved in more big fights.

He outlined his plans:

“Fedor and Lesnar [are] on my list, Mir as well. I am going on a holiday as I really trained hard whole 2008. Beginning in February I will start training again. My management is in negotiations now, I might visit the UFC in Ireland on January 17th (UFC 93: Franklin vs Henderson). My management has been in contact with Affliction as well as the UFC, I am a fighter and I concentrate on fighting, I am very happy with Golden Glory.”