Overeem on Training with Arlovski: I Don’t Think He’s Cool With Me At All

Over the last few years, UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem has spent a good deal of time training under the tutelage Greg Jackson in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Yet when Overeem was booked to fight Andrei Arlovski, a long time staple of Jackson’s camp, things got a little awkward.

Jackson and co. opted to corner Arlovski for the fight, while Overeem reduced his time at the Albuquerque gym and did most of his training elsewhere. Now that the fight has come and gone, however, Overeem is back at Jackson’s, training under the same room as his recent foe as he prepares for his upcoming title fight with Stipe Miocic.

Unfortunately, Overeem believes there is still some tension in the gym. Not surprising, really, considering he knocked Arlovski senseless when they fought.

“With Andrei, I still think he has a bit of a hard time dealing with the situation,” Overeem told reporters in a video posted to Sherdog.com. “I personally don’t have a  problem with him, but yeah.” 

“I’m cool [with him], I’m not allowing him to disrupt my flow,” Overeem continued. “I don’t think he’s cool with me at all, but he will be. Coach Greg and Wink said, ‘oh, give it some time and it’ll be cool,’ and if it’s not, it’s also fine. We never really trained together before we fought. Now, after the fight, we’re still not training together.” 

“The coaches have been great [after the fight]. With Andrei, I don’t get a ‘good morning,’ but I didn’t get a ‘good morning’ before the fight either.” 

Do you think it would be awkward training alongside a recent opponent? Do you sympathize with Arlovski or Overeem? Sound off, PENN nation!