Former Strikeforce/K-1 heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem is avoiding ex-UFC champ Junior dos Santos at all costs, at least that’s what UFC President Dana White believes.
White revealed on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight that “The Demolition Man” turned down a fight with JDS under two circumstances: a five-round, main event fight in Brazil as well as a three-round co-main event scrap in Las Vegas.
At a media event on Thursday, White told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that it was blatantly obvious what was happening in this situation.
"He wants nothing to do with dos Santos," White told Helwani. "He's literally hiding from JDS ... but he had no problem calling out Brock Lesnar who hasn't fought in 2 years and who is in WWE."
Following his decisive win over Frank Mir at UFC 169 two weeks ago, Overeem said he’d be happy to welcome Lesnar back to the Octagon – if rumors of his return were true.
“The Reem” retired Lesnar at UFC 141 in December 2011, finishing the ex-UFC titleholder with a body kick and steady stream of punches against the cage.
Overeem, who is currently on vacation in Jamaica, told Helwani he’s injured and isn’t entertaining any fight offers for that reason and that reason only.
"I'm hurt," he said. "Rib problem. So first [I] need an ETA on recovery time. [It] would be unwise to accept any fight before knowing exactly what's up. [I] wouldn't want to pull out of any fight [due to] being unfit, especially an anticipated fight as this one."
While the excuse sounds at least somewhat plausible at a glance, White isn’t taking it at face value, based on what he said at the aforementioned press conference after hearing about Overeem’s reasoning for turning down the fights.
"I have a feeling this rib injury is going to last as long as it takes to get Dos Santos another opponent. That's what I'm willing to bet," White said. "This will be the longest rib injury ever. As soon as we get Dos Santos a fight, that rib is going to heal right up."
Although he is just 1-2 in his past three fights, Overeem remains the no. 7 heavyweight in the world according to the UFC’s official rankings and is one of the division’s biggest draws.