Overeem Not Looking Past Rothwell, Wants JDS Next

“I wanted to actually fight on the Japan card. I thought that was a nice idea because I’m kind of popular there, so I thought that would be good. But that card was already full and they said, ‘Can you fight Sept. 5th?’ So, yeah, well sure. They had Stipe [Miocic], but he was banged up. So they came with Ben Rothwell.”

“Don’t take opponents lightly. Don’t take anyone lightly,” he stated. “This is the UFC. I am fighting against a 265 [pound] beast. The guy is huge. So, of course, he’s going to try to knock my head off. So, yeah, don’t underestimate anyone in that sense. I am currently coming out of a surgery, but I am optimistic. I am learning every day. I am training hard. It’s hard because it’s high altitude, so yeah, it’s going to be another challenge and we have to be 100 percent to make sure we overcome this challenge.”

“I’m focused and I want to really fight. I’m very optimistic [a bout with dos Santos] is going to come and I want it to come. “I could see that fight happening right after this fight, I’d like to fight with Junior.”

In a recent interview with ‘The MMA Hour’ UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem discussed his upcoming bout against Ben Rothwell and a potential fight with Junior dos Santos.

Overeem and JDS were schedule to fight for the UFC heavyweight strap when the Brazilian reigned over the division, but a failed drug test (by Overeem) halted the bout.