Alistair Overeem Announces Decision to Stop Fighting: ‘This is Not My Thing Anymore’

It appears that Alistair Overeem is stepping away from combat sports for good.

The mixed martial arts and kickboxing star announced his retirement during a recent interview with Lovin Dubai, where he also discussed his diet and the drastic changes to his physique that came to light when a photo of him alongside Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara surfaced on social media.

“This actually ties into what I want to do, because I actually just decided to stop fighting,” Overeem said (transcription via Bloody Elbow). “This is not my thing anymore.”

“It’s been 25 years, right? We’re going to do other cool stuff now.”

Overeem was known for his hulking physique during much of his combat sports career, but after working with a nutritionist, the Dutchman has changed his diet significantly.

“I’ve been doing a lot of new things for health,” Overeem said. “This is my next chapter, promoting health.

かねはら整骨院にアリスターオーフレイムが治療にきたよ🎵
昔の戦友が会いに来てくれるってありがたいよね😃https://t.co/veEjhiCJCb pic.twitter.com/SOYaI0mo6S

— 金原弘光 (@kane8ra) June 21, 2023

“I became a vegetarian also. I got no desire to eat meat anymore. Meat is not good for you. It negatively affects you. Yes, it tastes delicious. Even now I could still eat meat, but I just choose not to.”

Overeem last fought under the Glory Kickboxing banner in October, defeating Badr Hari at Glory Collision 4. That bout was overturned to a no contest when “The Demolition Man” tested positive for an unknown banned substance. Overeem was also suspended for one year.

Prior to signing with Glory, Overeem compiled a 12-8 mark with the UFC from 2011 to 2021. He came up short in a bid for heavyweight gold at UFC 203, where he suffered a first-round knockout loss to Stipe Miocic in September 2016. During his Octagon tenure he earned notable victories over the likes of Sergei Pavlovich, Fabricio Werdum, Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski, Junior dos Santos, Roy Nelson, Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar.

The 43-year-old Dutchman compiled a 47-19 record during an MMA career that began in 1999. He captured titles in Strikeforce and Dream and also competed for Pride Fighting Championships. Notable wins outside the UFC included Vitor Belfort, Igor Vovchanchyn, Sergei Kharitonov and Todd Duffee, among others. Overeem was also a K-1 kickboxing champion and the first athlete to hold titles in MMA and K-1 at the same time.