The Alistair Overeem that showed up at UFC 185 was, as Joe Rogan pointed out during the broadcast, the best Alistair Overeem the UFC has seen to date. While he was unable to finish Roy Nelson, no one but Mark Hunt has. Overeem showed a varied arsenal, however, throwing a number of kicks and some impressive knees, managed to survive a couple of scares, and generally speaking brought an excellent gameplan with him to the fight.

Which means that, in the end, for the first time in his UFC career, Overeem is on a win streak, and that in turn means that a title shot is once again within reach.

With Cain Velasquez set to meet Fabricio Werdum this Summer, here’s a look at who Overeem could/should be paired up with for his next fight.

Matt Mitrione

Win or lose against “Big” Ben Rothwell next month, Matt Mitrione has lined up a fight against Alistair Ovreem at some point simply by talking, very publicly, about how much he dislikes the former Strikeforce champ. Mitrione arguably did more promotion for Nelson vs. Overeem that either of the fighters themselves did thanks to the comments by “Meathead.”

It’s an easily marketable fight, and one that would probably bring the action in the octagon. The only real issue is Mitrione’s ranking — he’s not exactly a step up for Overeem.

Mark Hunt vs. Stipe Miocic Winner

While Overeem already holds a win over Mark Hunt, from their Dream days (a submission victory at Dream 5), Hunt is actually ahead of The Reem in the UFC official rankings, which makes a second bout with the Super Samoan very attractive. Of course, Hunt is currently booked up against Stipe Miocic, who was also on the rise (with a win over Roy Nelson) prior to tasting defeat in a five round decision loss against Junior Dos Santos.

Either man is a great test for Overeem, and the winner of Hunt vs. Miocic against Overeem would instantly be a title eliminator.

Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum Winner

There is an argument to be made for giving Overeem the next title shot immediately. For one, he still has some name value, although his drug scandal and struggles in the octagon have tarnished it a fair bit. Heavyweight, however, is a thin division, and Mark Hunt was given an interim title shot coming off a single win following his draw against Bigfoot Silva.

Overeem would also be an interesting match-up for Cain Velasquez. Velasquez would open a heavy favorite, but The Reem is a decorated striker who has been improving of late.

On the flip side, should Werdum defeat Cain for the title, things are a little murkier. Velasquez could be granted an immediate rematch. However, if he’s soundly defeated and needs to take another fight, Werdum vs. Overeem is a possibility — but remember, these two have fought before, and it wasn’t a pretty sight, as Overeem wanted no part of engaging with the Brazilian on the ground. With Werdum’s striking having come a long way in recent years, however, this would likely be a very different fight.

About The Author

Senior Staff Writer

Covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College under the Ontario Management Development Program. When not slaving at the keyboard, he can be found in the company of his dog, a good book, or getting lost in the woods.