Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem is heading back overseas this summer, as the top-tier striker is set to face Ricco Rodriguez on the July 10 card for the DREAM promotion, DREAM.15.
The news was reported by MMAjunkie.com, who learned from sources close to the promotion that Overeem has verbally committed to the fight.
Overeem made his way back to the United States earlier this year at “Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery”. In his first Strikeforce heavyweight title defense, Overeem decimated a timid Brett Rogers with a first round technical knockout victory. His last bout in the DREAM promotion came at DREAM.12 when he submitted James Thomspon via guillotine choke, pushing his record with the promotion to a perfect 3-0.
Rodriguez, a UFC veteran, is on a career resurgence of sorts, winning his last seven consecutive fights, six of them by stoppage. Just this year, Rodriguez has gone 4-0 with all four coming via knockout. The fight against Overeem will be his debut with the DREAM promotion.
DREAM.15 is set for the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on July 10 and features a lightweight championship between title holder Shinya Aoki and top contender Tatsuya Kawajiri. Other notable mixed martial artists on the card include Melvin Manhoef, Gegard Mousasi, and Gesias Cavalcante.