Overeem nem precisou gastar o Jiu-Jitsu na estreia no UFC. Agora o desafio é o campeão Cigano. Foto: UFC/Divulgação.

Logo após a vitória de Alistair Overeem sobre Brock Lesnar, no primeiro assalto da luta principal do UFC 141, hordas de repórteres foram atrás de Junior Cigano com a singela e inevitável pergunta. “E agora, campeão?”.

Cigano, calejado como seu punho direito, comentou que não se impressionou com o muay thai ou com o chutaço do holandês, que abalroou as costelas do gigante americano Lesnar, por sinal devidamente aposentado após o nocaute técnico.

“Overeem é um grande lutador, bate forte, mas eu confio no meu boxe”, resumiu o campeão peso pesado.

Em termos de mão, dificilmente alguém discorda do astro brasileiro para a luta que vai valer o cinturão, lá pelo meio do ano. No chão, numa eventual troca de posições, é que pode morar o perigo. Cigano sabe disso.

Na ponta do lápis, Overeem, invicto desde 2007, finalizou 17 adversários com a ajuda do Jiu-Jitsu, oito apenas com a famigerada guilhotina. Mas seu jogo é mais versátil que isso, como o GRACIEMAG mostra a seguir. Com vocês, cinco dos maiores momentos da feição suave de Alistair Overeem.

1. Overeem pega Belfort no Jiu-Jitsu

Na Saitama Super Arena, Vitor Belfort e o holandês se embolaram, na primeira fase do Pride GP meio-pesado, em 2005. Grogue em pé, Vitor foi presa fácil no Jiu-Jitsu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upIx2hxFE2E

2. O melhor da Europa na luta agarrada

Na seletiva europeia para o ADCC 2005, Overeem sobrou. Finalizou todos os oponentes no pescoço. Na final, encarou o sueco Mikael Grothe, e passou grande parte da luta na meia-guarda. Tentou alguns botes sem sucesso, mas que foram importantes para desviar a atenção do oponente. Até que, no cem-quilos, veio o ataque final. Overeem deixou um espaço para o sueco virar de quatro, e aí sim, com o pescoço na mira certinha para a guilhotina.

 3. Overeem também tem guarda

No ano 2000, o novato Alistair era apenas o irmão promissor de Valentijn Overeem, o homem que no ano seguinte finalizaria Randy Couture. Alistair encarou no Japão, pelo evento Ring Millenium, o local Yasuhito Namekawa, quando mostrou que sua guarda de Jiu-Jitsu era mais do que um escudo, era uma arma das perigosas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtLp2pxRYbA

4. Jiu-Jitsu invertido

No Dream 5, em 2008, contra o mão-de-pedra Mark Hunt, Overeem investiu no jogo de solo. Encaixou a americana invertida, que o neozelandês tentou defender capotando. Veja como terminou.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pty8Ma8QDbU

5. Esganando o ganso com o Jiu-Jitsu

Overeem, em 2000, provou mais uma vez a lei de Helio Gracie: “Contra o sono, não tem valente”. Contra Vladimer Tchanturia, no Ring 2000, Overeem fintou o braço, mas ele queria mesmo era o pescoço. Com o gogó inimigo exposto, o holandês encaixou o esgana-ganso, apelido do mata-leão sem o braço atrás da cabeça.

E para você leitor, faltou algum grande lance? Você acha que o Jiu-Jitsu de Overeem é capaz de surpreender o campeão Cigano? Comente a seguir, logo abaixo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8gtUo-_02U

Overeem didn't need to rely on his Jiu-Jitsu on his UFC debut. His next challenge is the champ, Cigano. Photo: UFC/publicity.

Just after Alistair Overeem pummeled Brock Lesnar into retirement in the first round of their encounter at UF 141, there were hordes of reporters on Junior Cigano’s tailcoats with a simple and inevitable question: “What now, champ?”

Cigano, as calloused as his right fist, remarked that he wasn’t impressed by the Dutchman’s Muay Thai or the liver kick that crumpled the monstrous-proportioned Lesnar to the ground and opened the way to the technical knockout.

“Overeem is a great fighter; he hits hard but I have faith in my boxing,” said the heavyweight champion in summary.

Where fists are concerned, it’s hard to argue against the Brazilian heavyweight holding his own when the two square off midway through the year. On the ground, though—should it go there—, that’s where the danger lies. Cigano knows it.

On paper, Overeem, who hasn’t lost a fight since 2007, has put away 17 opponents using his Jiu-Jitsu, eight of them with his notorious guillotine choke. But his game is more well-rounded than that, as GRACIEMAG.com will paint a picture of below, with five of Alistair Overeem gentle art highlights.

1. OVEREEM NABS BELFORT’S NECK

Vitor Belfort and the Dutchman tangled at the Saitama Super Arena for the opening stage of the Pride middleweight GP of 2005. Already dazed on his feet, Vitor was easy pray for “The Reem’s” Jiu-Jitsu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upIx2hxFE2E

2. BEST GRAPPLER IN EUROPE

At the European tryouts for the 2005 ADCC, Overeem was a cut above the rest, choking every one of his opponents out for the win. In the final he took on Mikael Grothe and spent most of the match in the Swede’s half-guard. He made a few unsuccessful attack attempts; they were important in that they diverted his opponent’s attention, though. Until the final attack came, from side-control Overeem allowed Grothe enough room to turn on all fours; that’s when the guillotine showed up in Overeem’s cross-hairs.

3. OVEREEM’S GOT GUARD TOO

In the year 2000, Alistair the rookie was just the promising brother of Valentijn Overeem, the man who the following year would submit Randy Couture. Alistair took on local boy Yasuhito Namekawa in Japan and showed that his guard was more than just a shield; it was a lethal weapon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtLp2pxRYbA

4. REVERSE JIU-JITSU

At Dream 5 in 2008, facing the heavy-handed Mark Hunt, Overeem put all his chips on his ground game, sinking a reverse americana armbar, which the Kiwi tried defending by flipping over. Watch how it ended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pty8Ma8QDbU

5. STRANGLING THE GEORGIAN GOOSE WITH JIU-JITSU

In 2000, Overeem again proved Helio Gracie’s Law: “There isn’t a tough guy out there who can hold out against oncoming sleep.” Against Vladimer Tchanturia at Rings 2000, Overeem faked a lunge at an arm, but what he really wanted was a neck. With his enemy’s throat exposed, the Dutchman sunk a goose-strangler, the nickname for a rear-naked choke without the arm behind the head.

What do you think, dear reader, is some big highlight missing? Think Overeem’s Jiu-Jitsu can catch the champion off guard? Post your thoughts in the comments section below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8gtUo-_02U