K-1 'Dynamite 2009' Preview

Alistair Overeem vs. Kazuyuki Fujita

The Storyline: There are few fighters in MMA right now who are as white-hot as Dutchman Alistair Overeem. Ever since moving up in weight to make the heavyweight division his permanent home, the “Demolition Man” has cut a swath of destruction through his opponents. He is undefeated in MMA for more than two years, and none of his last seven fights have gone the distance (1 KO, 5 submissions, 1 NC).

His momentum has been such that fight fans have started demanding a fight between him and the best heavyweight in the history of the sport -- Fedor Emelianenko. Before he can take on the “Last Emperor,” though, he has to make it past one of the few fighters who have given the Russian a real run for his money -- Japanese wrestler Kazuyuki Fujita.

The Breakdown: Moving up to the heavyweight division has been the perfect decision for Overeem. Always a solid puncher and an underrated submission fighter, his stamina problems are a thing of the past due to the typically slower pace. With his armor of muscles, the 250-pound “Ãœbereem” is an intimidating sight that strikes fear into the hearts of his opponents. And if it isn’t his physique that does it, it is his cracking punches and kicks that have even felled K-1 wunderkind Badr Hari in a kickboxing match last New Year’s Eve.

Iron-headed wrestler Fujita was tipped for a great future when he came back from taking a beating to defeat the then-feared Mark Kerr at the 2000 Pride grand prix finals. Even though he never became a champion in a big promotion (he did hold the K-1 MMA heavyweight title in 2004), he has always been a gatekeeper in the truest meaning of the word. When he was submitted by Jeff Monson at Pride’s farewell show and eventually knocked out by Travis Wiuff five months later, experts knew that the now 39-year-old’s decline had started.

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The Prediction: A prime Fujita from the turn of the millennium would have been an excellent test for the brash and cocky Dutchman. The "Old Ironhead" who turns 40 next year is unlikely going to be much of a challenge for the Golden Glory juggernaut, however. Expect Overeem to overrun Fujita in the same fashion as his last couple of opponents and finish him by technical knockout or submission in the first round.