A heavyweight clash between Alistair Overeem and Curtis Blaydes has been booked for UFC 225 in Chicago on June 9th.
This will be the 37-year-old Overeem’s first fight back since suffering one of the most devastating knockouts in recent memory courtesy of an uppercut from Francis Ngannou at UFC 218 in December.
Prior to that Overeem had been in fine form, defeating former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum and Mark Hunt, and as such he’ll be heading into this fight still ranked as the division’s No.2 contender.
On the other hand, Blaydes, who at 27 is 10 years his junior, is currently riding a three-fight winning streak that’s seem him defeat Daniel Omielanczuk, Oleskiy Oliynyk and Mark Hunt to rise to No.5 in the heavyweight ranks.
Overeem Vs Blaydes joins a UFC 225 card that currently doesn’t have a main event installed, but does have two other notable bouts on-board, with Claudia Gadelha fighting former strawweight champion Carla Esparza, while Joseph Benavidez will also be fighting Sergio Pettis.