Alistair Overeem’s next challenge will be to stop the surging Augusto Sakai.
MMA Fighting confirmed with sources that Overeem and Sakai are expected to meet in a heavyweight bout at a UFC event on Sept. 5 at a location to be determined. The matchup was first reported by ESPN.
For Overeem (46-18, 1 NC), this marks his 66th pro MMA bout and his 19th appearance for the UFC. He has won three of his last four fights, most recently defeating Walt Harris by second-round TKO in May. Prior to that he suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik that followed back-to-back first round TKOs of Aleksei Oleinik and Sergei Pavlovich.