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Following our interview with a fired up Andrei Arlovski earlier this week, we got the opportunity to speak to his upcoming opponent Alistair Overeem to get his reaction to his teammate's bold prediction that he will 'smash him' at UFC Rotterdam on May 8.

Arlovski also claimed that Overeem had "begged" the UFC to fight him and that he was the reason that a fight between two teammates had been put together.

Speaking to Mirror Sport, Overeem refuted he had asked for the fight but said he had no problem taking it when offered.

"No, no, no that is not correct," said Overeem.

"The UFC offered me this fight, actually, Lorenzo (Fertitta) said it would be Cain (Velasquez) or Arlovski but Cain was injured so it ended up being Arlovski."

(Image: Getty)

He added: "I had no concerns fighting a teammate. For me, it's a sport. To me it doesn't mean anything."

Whilst he may have no concerns fighting a fellow teammate, the main coaches at Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA have decided to coach Arlovski and not Overeem in the build-up to fight.

The Dutchman revealed to us that for this fight, he hasn't been training at the main Jackson-Winkeljohn gym.

"I've actually been training at some satellite gyms at Jackson's," said Overeem.

"I'm just doing my thing. Doing what needs to be done."

He then added: "We will pick up right where we left off after this fight," when asked whether he was disappointed that both coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn wouldn't be in his corner.

Overeem is currently the number three ranked heavyweight in the UFC and is currently riding a three-fight win streak having beaten Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson and Junior Dos Santos.

The former K-1, DREAM and Strikeforce champion said that after he beats Arlovski he believes he will gunning for the UFC heavyweight champion.

"After I beat Arlovski I will challenge for the UFC title by the end of the year."

To do that he will have to beat the Belarusian Arlovski in his hometown at UFC Rotterdam when the UFC takes their first ever show to the Netherlands. Overeem said he was excited about fighting in front of his home crowd.

"The UFC are doing a tremendous job of promoting the sport worldwide.

"The views about the sport haven't always been so positive here in the Holland but it's nice to see change and to see the UFC come to Holland and everyone been really enthusiastic about it.

(Image: Getty)

"It's a great thing and I'm really happy to be a part of it. I think beating Arlovski there will be another to add to my list of great accomplishments."

Overeem is well aware of the task at hand though and thinks Arlovski is going to be a challenging opponent for him on May 8th.

"He's going to be dangerous and he's going to come in there with a gameplan," said Overeem.

"He's a great athlete and a former champion so I expect the strongest version of Arlovski to be there. What that means is that I have to have my myself together, have my gameplan and have my strategy together.

"I've been working hard and I feel very confident going into this one."

Tickets for UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski sold out in just three hours.