[NCRadioMan]

OVEREEM VS. ROGERS OFFICIALLY FOR THE TITLE

With Alistair Overeem's return to Strikeforce still 6 weeks away, the promotion has made a decision about the heavyweight belt and the title will indeed be on the line when he faces Brett Rogers in St. Louis on May 15.

The news was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by Strikeforce official Mike Afromowitz on Sunday.

Overeem won the Strikeforce title in 2007 with a win over Paul Buentello, but has been absent from the promotion ever since. The Dutch fighter has also not lost since his last Strikeforce appearance going 6-0-1 over the last few years, while also racking up several impressive wins in K-1.

The title fight will headline the upcoming May 15 show which will broadcast on Showtime, and Overeem will put his belt up for grabs against Brett Rogers, who last competed in Nov 2009 in a loss to Fedor Emelianenko.

Prior to the loss to the Russian, Rogers was undefeated in his career, and even though the defeat put a mark in the loss column, the Chicago born fighter showed tremendous heart and skill against the widely regarded top heavyweight in MMA.

Overeem and Rogers will showcase the heavyweight title fight, and another battle of the big men will serve as the co-main event when former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski takes on Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.


I call BS! Rogers was beaten in his last fight by Fedor, so why is he getting the title shot? Fedor and his people will not like this. It may just be the straw that stroked the camel's sack. At least they are making Overeem defend the belt for the first time in 2 1/2 years.