UFC veteran Alistair Overeem is self-isolating and training at the same time. The Dutchman traveled from his home country to his training base in the United States. He appeared on a Q & A on Duello Channel and shared his take on the Coronavirus. He also spoke about his immunity and his plans to fight in the Octagon as soon as possible.

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Alistair Overeem says he probably had Coronavirus 

The Heavyweight Fighter spent Chinese New Year in Thailand in February. Which was around the time the world was feeling the first effects of what was to become a global pandemic. 

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‘The Demolition Man’ says it’s likely he contracted the virus. He based this assumption on the symptoms of people around him during his stay. He attributes careful maintenance of his immune system throughout his career as the reason he isn’t afraid of the Coronavirus. 

The 8th ranked UFC Heavyweight said, “as an athlete, I’ve been always very obsessed with health and the immune system. That’s why I’m not really afraid of the virus. I’ve probably already had it.”

He urged people all over the world to focus on maintaining their immunity “For your immune system, you should diet, eat to strengthen your immune system.”

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‘The Demolition Man’ suggested people use the time to read books as, “There’s a lot to learn about what to eat and what not to eat. There are a lot of foods people are eating that they do not realize is not healthy and also combinations of food. People, you’ve got homework to do.”

Overeem lost his last fight in the UFC to Jairzinho Rozenstruik. He was to make his return to the Octagon at the UFC on ESPN+30 against Walt Harris, but the event was pushed back.  Later, the fight moved to the May 16th UFC on ESPN+30. However, that is in limbo as UFC events are on hold after the UFC broadcaster requested Dana White to stand down.

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In the chat ‘The Demolition Man’ said the world will slowly get back to normal and he believes the UFC will be the first to hold an event. He said, “I expect to fight there.”

Will we see Overeem-Harris bout at Fight Island?

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Reubyn Coutinho

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Reubyn Coutinho is the Head of Fact-Checking Initiatives and Content Quality Lead at EssentiallySports, where he oversees editorial quality across multiple sports verticals. A Communication graduate, he’s spent over five years shaping the site’s evolution from a niche sports blog into an all-in-one news platform, mentoring more than 110 journalists, introducing data-driven article improvements, and developing editorial guidelines for global audiences. Across his career at ES, Reubyn has worked as a writer, editor, and senior editor, covering everything from UFC, WWE, and boxing to F1, NFL, NBA, and tennis. His bylines include exclusive interviews with former UFC champions Demetrious Johnson and Miesha Tate, as well as combat sports stars Marcus Almeida and Sage Northcutt. Known for his meticulous eye, he regularly resolves headline debates, revisits trending pieces using live analytics, and sets the standard for high-quality sports reporting. Outside of sports media, Reubyn is an active film critic, contributing reviews and festival coverage to Netflix Junkie, where he’s covered events such as MAMI, Venice, and NYAFF. Whether he’s breaking down a championship fight or a Hitchcock classic, his work comes with deep research with a pure love for sport.

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