Alistair Overeem Believes His Experience Will Be Key Against Travis Browne at UFC on Fox Sports 1

UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem believes his experience is going to play a significant role in his UFC on Fox Sports 1 co-main event bout with Travis Browne on Aug. 17.

Overeem (36-12, 1 no contest) will be looking to strike with Browne (14-1-1), but is prepared for wherever the fight takes place.

“I’m a striker and I’m looking for that striking game. I also have a submission game and I also have some wrestling. I’m all around. I think I’m especially going to beat him in the experience. I have so many more fights than he has. He’s very aggressive, but my experience is going to be the turning point,” said Overeem on UFC Tonight.

Overeem has been in position to fight for the heavyweight title twice since debuting in the UFC. He earned a title shot by defeating former champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. He was scheduled to face then-champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, but failed a pre-licensing drug test for the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He was denied a license and was unable to re-apply for nine months.

At the end of the nine-month period, he was granted a license and faced Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva at UFC 156 in a top contender bout. He was defeated by knockout in the third round.

“What happen was he knocked me out cold. I think there was a little bit of an under-estimation. He’s a dangerous guy. He has heavy bones. That was a costly price to pay,” he said about the loss. “In the meantime, I’ve learned all the lessons I could have. I took some time off to overthink everything that wasn’t right. In my own way I’ve been fixing everything. I’ve been in camp for four months and I feel great. I look forward to fighting again.”

It’s unclear whether a win over Browne will earn him a title shot, but winning the title is Overeem’s ultimate goal.

“That’s for the gentleman upstairs to decide,” he said when asked about getting a title shot. “My goal is the UFC belt. That would crown my career. So I’m just going to give it all I have.”

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