More Alistair Overeem Rumors: Todd Duffee

Last Updated on Thursday, 30 December 2010 08:51 Wednesday, 22 December 2010 17:28

Written by Dave Walsh

If you haven't had enough Alistair Overeem rumors, prepare for a new one. Remember the opponent of the week last week? Last week, Bobby Lashley was all-but-confirmed according to multiple websites, with a Strikeforce employee tweeting that Lashley was going to be the man to step up and fight Alistair Overeem. The way that FEG has handled Alistair Overeem is really no different than the way that they handle any other fighter, the main difference is that Overeem holds a championship in a United States promotion, Strikeforce.

This immediately means that any Overeem news garners attention from the media and blogs in the US and the speculation goes through the roof. In a way, it is a severe shortcoming on the part of FEG. FEG has finally found a star that could help them truly break through to a United States audience, but they are treating him like business-as-usual.

Last night, Todd Duffee posted on his Facebook page that you can watch him vs. "Overeem" on HDnet on New Year's Eve. So now there is a post on Sherdog that the fight is "50-50." At this point, Duffee has signed his cotract and the money has been hammered out between his camp and FEG, he simply needs to attain a short-term visa and everything is a go, right?

I feel like a grandfather trying to talk to his teenage grandson about the time he got the clap in Korea while all the kid can think about is getting laid. Everyone is so excited for the prospect of Overeem finally having a fight that they are missing the fact that this feels familiar. Last week Dave Meltzer, the most reliable reporter in the business (I know, Helwani does cool backstage videos, I know) said he was certain of the Lashley fight happening. Last year Andrei Arlovski's camp applied for a temporary work visa and had signed a contract, too.

No matter who the source, how certain they are, until the ink is completely dry and FEG announces it, Overeem does not have an opponent.

UPDATE: According to sources close to the situation, Todd Duffee has agreed to be paid $60,000 to fight Overeem and has not been training for a fight at all, this was completely last minute. Official announcement expected the 27th.

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