Alistair Overeem got his wish to finally fight Junior dos Santos, but really he's gunning for another crack at UFC heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum.

Overeem claims a unanimous decision win over Werdum dating back to 2011 in Strikeforce, but the climate is a bit different right now.

Speaking with Chael Sonnen on his podcast, Overeem says Werdum wants nothing to do with part two.

"I definitely get satisfaction of that [win]," said Overeem. "I also know that Werdum doesn't like me. He doesn't want to fight me. I'm the kind of guy ... I can beat you. I can beat any heavyweight. Of course, that strikes fear in them. I pay attention to what people say, what heavyweight fighters say in the UFC. Werdum doesn't want anything to do with me, either."

Overeem isn't exactly in rare company. Prior to Werdum's resurgent second stint with the UFC, the champ was also beaten by Andrei Arlovski at UFC 70 in 2007 and KO'd by Dos Santos at UFC 90 in 2008.

Werdum righted a 2006 PRIDE loss when he armbarred Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC on Fuel TV 10 in 2013, but has largely focused on new challenges.

"I do have to say that Werdum has made a terrific development since I beat him," Overeem admitted. "Actually even before that since he beat Fedor Emelianenko. He was already on the right track. Quite a development. He's a good striker now. He's got a very good game plan. A very good team at KINGS MMA in Los Angeles. I'm very much looking forward to fighting him again.

"Again, these guys, they don't want to fight me because they know they can lose."

First, the No. 9 ranked Overeem has to knock off No. 2 Dos Santos.

"If I'm going to be honest, there's not much love lost between us," Overeem said of Dos Santos. "We've been scheduled to fight each other a couple of times and it didn't happen for various reasons. A couple of things pissed me off. Junior talks a lot of smack about me, but I didn't hear him accepting my challenge.

"Junior is going to be a very nice test for me. A challenge. Am I ready to fight for a title? So why wouldn't he pursue the fight with me? I had to step up the pressure a little bit."

Overeem faces Dos Santos Dec. 19 in the co-main event at UFC on Fox 17 in Orlando, Florida.

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MEDIA STEW

Inside the Octagon with Ariel Helwani.

McGregor trying to get into Faber's head over Dillashaw.

Dana White says McGregor told him he wants that Frankie Edgar fight before moving to lightweight.

BJJ star Gabi Garcia is making her MMA debut in Japan on NYE.

Matt Brown talks about changing his fighting mentality.

Karo Parisyan VS. AJ Agazarm at Metamoris Underground.

Long watches.

UFC Japan Barnett vs Nelson Care/Don't Care Preview

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TWEETS

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I put college "fun" on hold for a career I believed I could finish undefeated, and dominate. My prime & irreplaceable years, going to waste. — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 23, 2015

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Soon.

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Magnifique.

Interim Rambo.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Sept. 23 2015)

cancelled Matt Hobar vs. Norifumi Yamamoto at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via ynassar.

Finally a breakthrough for MMA in France!

French MMA took a massive stride towards becoming legal last week. This despite the best efforts of the French Judo Federation which has actively fought and successfully lobbied against the ratification of the sport since the early 2000's. Vladimir Tesyla, promoter of the World Warriors Fighting Championship, successfully managed to stage the first ever MMA event under the Unified Rules on the 19th of September in Paris, France. Bertrand Amoussou, president of the French Mixed Martial Arts commission and board member of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, mentioned that the event could have been halted at any moment albeit necessary precautions had been taken and the police were informed ahead of time of their intentions to stage the event. ...

Check out the rest of the post here.

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