_Hanna_Kuprevich_Alamy.jpg?#)
I’m a UFC legend who fought Stipe Miocic, Brock Lesnar and Vitor Belfort – but no-one punched harder than ‘The Predator’
Alistair Overeem has fought some of the toughest names in MMA over a legendary career, but there was one name that stood out as his hardest-hitting opponent. That man was Francis Ngannou, who he fought in his storied UFC career that ran over 20 fights across a decade. Overeem signed off his with a kickboxing win – but it was later overturned to a no-contest when he failed a drug testGlory ‘The Demolition Man’ won multiple world titles in MMA and kickboxing before walking away from combat sports in 2023 after an epic 25-year run. In an emotional statement at the time he said: “So here we are.. After 25 years of competing, I am officially announcing my retirement from my fight-career… “What a beautiful adventure it has been which took me to incredible places and introduced me to remarkable people. “Beyond the travelling, belts and victories, I got to experience what happiness really is about: Family and health. I am gravely looking forward to spend more time with my girls.” Overeem famously knocked out Brock Lesnar in his UFC debut before beating Frank Mir, Fabricio Werdum, Sergei Pavlovich and several other heavyweight contenders. The 43-year-old suffered 15 knockout losses during a career that saw him take shots from Stipe Miocic, Chuck Liddell, Mark Hunt, Vitor Belfort and many more big-hitting MMA legends. However, he says one man’s power stands out from the rest. “That is a good question,” Overeem replied when talkSPORT.com asked him who’s the hardest-hitting opponent he ever fought. “The heaviest puncher ever? Actually, yes. Francis Ngannou.” Ngannou lifted Overeem, who is 6ft 4in and weighs around 18 stone, off his feet with an uppercut KO that left the Dutchman unconscious on the floor at UFC 218 in December 2017. Overeem knows just how hard Ngannou hitsGetty Images - Getty The 38-year-old went on to win UFC gold by doing a similar thing to Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 in March 2021 before parting ways with Dana White’s league after just one title defence. Overeem was one of the few people backing Ngannou to pull off a monumental upset in his boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October 2023. ‘The Predator’ scored a knockdown and some people considered him unlucky to walk away from his first squared circle bout on the wrong end of a split decision. Overeem was impressed with his old rival’s performance in defeat. He added: “To be honest, I think Ngannou did great.” “I mean, he knocked him down. I think did fantastic in that performance. First boxing fight ever and you go the distance, and you knock him down. So, he wasn’t shocked when his old rival dropped FuryGetty There was no debate about who won between Ngannou and AJMark Robinson/Matchroom “Tyson Fury had to go on autopilot to beat him in a very safe way. “That’s what happened, Tyson Fury felt threatened and switched to his high-level autopilot, which he is good at, and that was how he won.” Ngannou went on to fight Anthony Joshua at ‘Knockout Chaos’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in March 2024. However, AJ showed his class and experience in the squared circle and knocked him out in the second round. He has since returned to MMA and made his PFL debut by knocking out Renan Fereira.
Alistair Overeem has fought some of the toughest names in MMA over a legendary career, but there was one name that stood out as his hardest-hitting opponent.
That man was Francis Ngannou, who he fought in his storied UFC career that ran over 20 fights across a decade.
‘The Demolition Man’ won multiple world titles in MMA and kickboxing before walking away from combat sports in 2023 after an epic 25-year run.
In an emotional statement at the time he said: “So here we are.. After 25 years of competing, I am officially announcing my retirement from my fight-career…
“What a beautiful adventure it has been which took me to incredible places and introduced me to remarkable people.
“Beyond the travelling, belts and victories, I got to experience what happiness really is about: Family and health. I am gravely looking forward to spend more time with my girls.”
Overeem famously knocked out Brock Lesnar in his UFC debut before beating Frank Mir, Fabricio Werdum, Sergei Pavlovich and several other heavyweight contenders.
The 43-year-old suffered 15 knockout losses during a career that saw him take shots from Stipe Miocic, Chuck Liddell, Mark Hunt, Vitor Belfort and many more big-hitting MMA legends.
However, he says one man’s power stands out from the rest.
“That is a good question,” Overeem replied when talkSPORT.com asked him who’s the hardest-hitting opponent he ever fought.
“The heaviest puncher ever? Actually, yes. Francis Ngannou.”
Ngannou lifted Overeem, who is 6ft 4in and weighs around 18 stone, off his feet with an uppercut KO that left the Dutchman unconscious on the floor at UFC 218 in December 2017.
The 38-year-old went on to win UFC gold by doing a similar thing to Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 in March 2021 before parting ways with Dana White’s league after just one title defence.
Overeem was one of the few people backing Ngannou to pull off a monumental upset in his boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October 2023.
‘The Predator’ scored a knockdown and some people considered him unlucky to walk away from his first squared circle bout on the wrong end of a split decision.
Overeem was impressed with his old rival’s performance in defeat.
He added: “To be honest, I think Ngannou did great.”
“I mean, he knocked him down. I think did fantastic in that performance. First boxing fight ever and you go the distance, and you knock him down.
“Tyson Fury had to go on autopilot to beat him in a very safe way.
“That’s what happened, Tyson Fury felt threatened and switched to his high-level autopilot, which he is good at, and that was how he won.”
Ngannou went on to fight Anthony Joshua at ‘Knockout Chaos’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in March 2024.
However, AJ showed his class and experience in the squared circle and knocked him out in the second round.
He has since returned to MMA and made his PFL debut by knocking out Renan Fereira.
