By FCF Staff

While reports had surfaced recently indicating that Zuffa and Golden Glory were in negotiations to bring Alistair Overeem into the UFC fold, the news yesterday that the Dutch heavyweight would face fellow former champion Brock Lesnar December 30^th likely caught many off guard. After all, it was just a few weeks ago that Overeem was abruptly released from Strikeforce, following a reported dispute over the K-1 champ’s next fight and the terms of a new contract. When several of Overeem’s Golden Glory teammates were also released by Zuffa shortly thereafter, few were likely predicting at the time that the former Strikeforce champ would end the 2011 campaign as a UFC fighter. (Pictured: Overeem standing above Fabricio Werdum)

“We are very excited,” Golden Glory manager Bas Boon told FCF. “After a lot of media speculation and some misunderstandings, this is a milestone for Golden Glory and Alistair Overeem. We explained our situation and negotiated in good faith, so did the UFC, this is the result.”

After Overeem and other Golden Glory fighters like his brother Valentijn and former Strikeforce champ Marloes Coenen were also let go by Zuffa, UFC President Dana White announced that the company had no choice due to Golden Glory’s policy of collecting the fighter’s purses. Boon and Golden Glory acted quickly to resolve the reported dispute, and now Overeem will participate in what very well could be the biggest fight of his career.

“This will be a great matchup; a great fight for Alistair to prove himself,” said Boon while discussing Overeem’s upcoming fight with Lesnar. “We thank the UFC for this opportunity and all people who helped to make this deal come through.”

Overeem (35-11) will head into the UFC having gone undefeated in his last ten MMA bouts, a run that includes victories over Todd Duffee, Brett Rogers and most recently Fabricio Werdum. While Lesnar (5-2) and his renowned wrestling abilities could present Overeem challenges he hasn’t faced in DREAM or Strikeforce, the former UFC champ has spent much of 2011 on the sidelines due to diverticulitis.

“Alistair is ready to get his next belt,” Boon added about Overeem,whose trophy case includes the Strikeforce and DREAM belts in addition to his K-1 championship . “His first opponent is a non-title fight but against Brock Lesnar we are going to go for it.”

While no terms of Overeem’s new contract have been disclosed, as expected with any UFC fighter, Golden Glory has confirmed that the 31 year-old-veteran has signed an exclusive contract.