A number of news outlets have reported that the last active K-1 World Grand Prix winner has finally decided to hang the gloves up at the age of 43. This isn't quite the truth though.
The accomplished two-sport champion made an appearance on the "Lovin' Dubai" TV show more than a month ago, to talk about a variety of topics. What many didn't expect, was for Overeem to unexpectedly announce his retirement from all professional competition. The decision to retire appeared to be in part motivated by his changed diet and motivation to work in the health and diet industry. "I became a vegetarian... I got no desire to eat meat anymore". The reason for this change to an alkaline diet being that this allegedly creates "...an alkaline environment which these [meat loving] parasites do not like. They will get hurt and die off".
Dutch combat sports outlet Main Even NL, has reached out to Overeem's management after mainstream media picked up the news a couple days ago, to confirm that the Dutch legend will not retire. While he does indeed plan to leave combat sports soon, likely to promote his new lifestyle and perhaps work in the health industry, he still plans to fight one or two more times.
Even if had chosen to retire, his great accomplishment in the sport of kickboxing would place him among the greats of the sport. Overeem is one of only nine fighters to capture the K-1 World Grand Prix title, out of 55 fighters to make it to the final eight in the twenty-year run the promotion had, with wins over the likes of Peter Aerts and Badr Hari among others.
When rumors of 'The Reem' signing with ONE Championship swept up earlier this year, GLORY Kickboxing made it very clear that the Dutch fighter has signed an exclusive contract that he has yet bring to an end. GLORY themselves are gearing up for their own Heavyweight Grand Prix, and with Overeem's suspension ending in November, it would make for the perfect opportunity for his last run at the Heavyweight crown.
