Overeem-Duffee for Dream Interim Title at ‘Dynamite’

Once thought to be a non-title affair, the late-notice scrap between Todd Duffee and Alistair Overeem (Pictured) at “Dynamite: The Power of Courage 2010” will be for the Dream interim heavyweight crown.

Dream officials made the announcement regarding title implications for the bout on the promotion’s Web site on Thursday and confirmed the news during a pre-fight press conference. The victor of the match will be awarded an interim title, despite the promotion never before having crowned a heavyweight champion. The event is promoted by Dream and K-1 parent company Fighting and Entertainment Group and will go down New Year’s Eve from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Overeem comes fresh off a destructive performance at the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix Finals in which “The Demolition Man” lived up to his moniker, defeating Tyrone Spong, Gokhan Saki and Peter Aerts on Dec. 11 to snatch the coveted striking crown. He also holds the Strikeforce MMA heavyweight title. His last performance under mixed martial arts rules came in May, when he smashed top contender Brett Rogers in the first round of their bout at Strikeforce “Heavy Artillery” in St. Louis. The Dutchman has won eight of his last nine bouts, with the only blemish in that three-year span being a controversial no-contest to Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic at Dream 6 in 2008.

In Duffee, Overeem faces a quick heavyweight with great athleticism. A former UFC propect, Duffee started his career a perfect 6-0, including a first-round drubbing of Tim Hague in his 2009 UFC debut. The 25-year-old’s performance against Hague at UFC 102 earned him the official fastest knockout in promotion history. After suffering a knee injury, however, Duffee fell on hard times. Despite a stellar start against veteran Mike Russow at UFC 114 in May, Duffee was knocked out in the third round, bringing his unbeaten streak to a halt. He was released by the UFC in September and has not fought since.

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Overeem-Duffee Official; Special Rules Revealed for ‘Dynamite’

Alistair Overeem: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com

The rumored clash between Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem and former UFC talent Todd Duffee is now official for “Dynamite: The Power of Courage 2010.”

K-1 and Dream parent company Fighting and Entertainment Group today confirmed the match-up at a press conference in Tokyo. “Dynamite” will take place on New Year's Eve at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Overeem is undefeated in his last nine bouts, a streak which extends over three years. His most recent conquest was a May drubbing of Brett Rogers in Strikeforce, but MMA isn’t the only forum in which “The ‘Reem” has been impressive. The Golden Glory product is less than a month removed from winning the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix, defeating Tyrone Spong, Gokhan Saki and Peter Aerts in a single night to take the coveted kickboxing crown.

Duffee’s last appearance in the cage also came in May, when he was shockingly knocked out by veteran Mike Russow at UFC 114. Plagued by a knee injury, the previously-unbeaten Duffee was cut by the promotion in September. Duffee is currently scheduled to compete on Jan. 29 at Titan Fighting Championships 16 in Kansas against “The Ultimate Fighter 10” alum Abe Wagner.

Two “Dynamite” bouts are scheduled to be held under “special rules,” the details of which the organization also revealed today.

Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki’s clash with K-1 Max veteran Yuichiro Nagashima will feature one three-minute kickboxing round, followed by a standard five-minute MMA round. The fighters will use open-fingered gloves throughout. If no winner is decided in the eight minutes of competition, the fight will be declared an automatic draw.

Meanwhile, Bob Sapp’s super-heavyweight “IGF rules” bout with former sumo Shinichi Suzukawa will feature a rule set similar to modern MMA, but the fighters will not wear gloves. Closed-fist strikes are forbidden, though palm strikes are legal. The match is being produced by the Inoki Genome Federation, Antonio Inoki’s pro-wrestling promotion.

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Proposed Overeem-Duffee Match ‘50-50’ for New Year’s Eve

Todd Duffee: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com

The rumored participation of Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem at “Dynamite: The Power of Courage 2010” was today confirmed by K-1 and Dream parent company Fighting and Entertainment Group, who added the muscular Dutchman to the fight card on Dream’s official website.

While Overeem’s opponent has yet to be named for the Dec. 31 event at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, two athletic heavyweight competitors have been discussed as possible foes: onetime pro-wrestler Bobby Lashley and former UFC prospect Todd Duffee.

Speaking with sources close to Duffee, Sherdog.com has confirmed that the 25-year-old has been offered the bout by Dream officials and negotiations are currently underway. According to those sources, Duffee’s scheduled bout on a Jan. 29 Titan Fighting Championships card in Kansas should not interfere with his ability to make the New Year’s Eve date. When pressed on the odds of the matchup coming to fruition, one source asserted that bout with Overeem has a “50-50 shot” of taking place.

About 18 months ago, Duffee was on the fast track in the UFC’s heavyweight division. However, multiple injuries and a knockout loss to veteran Mike Russow at UFC 114 in May quickly derailed the Duffee express train, and the Grudge Training Center product was released by the UFC in September. After several months on the shelf, Duffee was last week confirmed for the Titan FC event, where he will square off against “Ultimate Fighter” vet Abe Wagner.

Overeem is fresh off a masterful performance at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 earlier this month, where he defeated Tyrone Spong, Gokhan Saki and Peter Aerts in a single night to claim the coveted kickboxing title. His only fight under MMA rules in 2010 came on May 15, when he easily dispatched of Brett Rogers at Strikeforce “Heavy Artillery.” The Dutch “Demolition Man” is 8-0-1 in his last nine fights, with the only blemish being a no-contest against Mirko “Cro Cop” Filopovic at Dream 6 in 2008.

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