Hide your horses, Alistair Overeem is making his return to combat sports.
“Demolition Man” is scheduled to box fellow UFC veteran Jimi Manuwa as part of the Jake Paul vs. Cédric Doumbé fight card on Christmas Eve at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. Their professional bout will be contested at heavyweight across six round of action, assuming it lasts that long.
Overeem and Manuwa both spent several years competing under the UFC banner.
“I’ve fought the best in the world, and I’ve been a world champion in multiple
disciplines,” Overeem said. “Now I’m starting a new chapter in boxing, and I’m not here to make up the numbers. Jimi Manuwa is a dangerous man with serious knockout power, but I’ve built my career on taking the toughest challenges in combat sports. I grew up in the Netherlands, but Dubai is my home now, and on Christmas Eve I’m bringing the Demolition Man to Coca-Cola Arena. Jimi had better be ready, because I’m coming to put on a show. Once I stop Jimi, Rico Verhoeven is next on my hit list.”
Overeem, 46, has not competed since his “No Contest” opposite Badr Hari at Glory Collision 4 in late 2022.
“London is in everything I do,” Manuwa said. “Where I come from, pressure makes you, and it makes me. I’ve watched Alistair since I was coming up, and I know exactly what he’s capable of. That’s why I wanted this fight. After my win in Orlando, I wasn’t looking for an easy opponent. On Christmas Eve, one of us is going to sleep, and it’s not going to be me.”
Manuwa, also 46, was last seen beating up Chase Sherman under boxing rules at Duel Arena 1 last August.
