MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[Cat--Smasher]

Overeem stays busy while suspended, helps Spong prepare for Aerts

From training partners to rivals to training partners again - Alistair Overeem and Tyrone Spong have come full circle.

The two trained together under Lucien Carbin in Amsterdam as young men taking making their first moves into competition, before going separate ways as Overeem moved to the Golden Glory team that he only recently left.

Now Spong and Overeem are both part of the ‘Blackzilians’ team based at Imperial Athletics in Boca Raton, Florida. This week Spong returned to Europe for a fight with Peter Aerts at this weekend’s Its Showtime event in Belgium; Overeem has been helping him train.

“Seven years ago we were young and at a different place, now we are working together like a team. Tyrone has an important fight and therefore I’m helping him out. Just like he helped Rashad for his fight and he will help me for my fight is it now our turn to help him to be as prepared as he can be. We serve him now and make sure he’s victorious next week,” he says.

“I’m not going to give away anything as it’s something between us but I can tell you that he will win this fight. He’s very sharp and motivated and he has a extraordinary talent but now he’s matured and experienced at heavyweight so I expect a short fight next week.

“This fight will be over in one round, Tyrone is now a completely different fighter and although I like Peter very much and wish him the best but next time he should pick another fighter for his farewell fight because Tyrone is too much to handle for him now.”

Overeem also discussed Spong’s probable move into mixed martial arts. He has been training a mixture of disciplines while based in Florida and it is probably only a matter of time before he makes his debut with the four-ounce gloves on.

“He’s working hard to be a more complete fighter and I think he can do just fine. He’s pretty young and still learns, he’s not just a fighter but an athlete, so he picks up things pretty fast. He's taking one step at a time and I'm going to help him to be ready for his first MMA fight,” says Overeem.

Overeem stays busy while suspended, helps Spong prepare for Aerts - Fighters Only

[KevoOnTheRadio]

Oh shit Spong and Aerts are fighting this weekend? Word

[Pasha K]

For some reason I thought Aerts was already retired.

[rivethead]

I thought AO isn't actually suspended, he just wasn't granted a license by the NSAC?

rh

[Kimbo> Rampage]

Yes AO has been with Rashad's team in Florida for the past few months...

[Pasha K]

Maybe it is just the angle of the photo, but Reem looks much less ripped than in other pics.

[MMA4EVERRR]

Originally Posted by Pasha K

Maybe it is just the angle of the photo, but Reem looks much less ripped than in other pics.

I thought so too but perhaps AO is doing more cardio, leaning out in the process. IMO, better cardio is more essential than strength if you're in the HW division.

[Kimbo> Rampage]

Originally Posted by MMA4EVERRR

I thought so too but perhaps AO is doing more cardio, leaning out in the process. IMO, better cardio is more essential than strength if you're in the HW division.

Maybe it is because of he is trying to get away from whatever PED he was allegedly using... or he isnt eating as much horse meat...

but as you said it may be a blessing in disguise. We dont want to see him back in his LHW form, but he could use a little less size to sure up his cardio and his speed... While still being one of the more powerful HW's.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Overeem is definately looking trimmer.