Alistair Overeem has been on a quite tear in and out the ring. Since 2007, he's ripped through his MMA and K-1 fights, winning 14-of-16. He's also wrecked weight rooms around the world. At 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, he possesses one of the most impressive physiques in the fight game. Plain and simple, he looks like a heavyweight champ. Japan is fascinated with the Dutchman. His endorsement and merchandising potential in Japan is massive. Overeem, 30, released another great episode in his documentary series "The Reem." It's a nice look into the Japanese culture and its relationship with star athletes from the West. Overeem's future will be interesting to track. When Dana White questions his standing in the heavyweight rankings, in what may be an effort to push him towards the UFC, should "The Reem" even pay attention? It depends on what Overeem wants. "For me, it's all about my career and my success. And my financial situation. On the other hand I'm kind of proud to represent K-1," Overeem said. "I think I've grown as a striker. I think the striking has really developed me as an MMA fighter. I want to win that (2010 K-1 WGP) title. I want to prove to the world that I'm unique, a champion in MMA (and) a champion in K-1." If he wants to fight the best in MMA - and that's certainly a debatable topic when it comes to heavyweights - then he'll eventually make his way to the UFC. If Overeem covets the freedom of fighting both MMA and kickboxing, then he'll never fight for Zuffa. There's also the issue of money. Just look at the endorsement career of someone like Bob Sapp, to witness how much potential the Japanese market holds for elite fighters who have that certain look. If Overeem came to the UFC and eventually won the title, he could make a killing in the U.S. If he fell short and was just one of many on the massive UFC roster, then most major U.S. corporations would have zero familiarity with him and he'd probably lose out on some serious cash. Overeem is currently ranked No. 8 in the USA Today/Bloody Elbow rankings. He's ahead of UFC heavyweights like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Cheick Kongo, Brendan Schaub and Roy Nelson. Should he yearn for a spot with America's biggest promotion or is it counterproductive to his career?

With love affair in Japan maybe Overeem doesn't need the UFC

ROSEMEAD, Calif. – Even by star standards, Tito Ortiz seemingly is skating on thin ice. The once dominant light heavyweight and former champion is 0-3-1 in the previous four years of competition, and a variety of injuries real and alleged have hobbled his ability to fight at 100 percent. But "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" scoffs at the idea he's fighting for relevancy, much less his job, at Saturday's UFC 121 event. "Hell no," Ortiz (15-7-1 MMA, 14-7 UFC) told MMAjunkie. "It don't matter, man. People are going to watch Tito Ortiz (either) kick ass or people trying to kick my ass. That's what I do. I entertain; that's my job." Ortiz meets Matt Hamill (9-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on the UFC 121 main card, which takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and airs live on pay-per-view after a two-fight "UFC Prelims" broadcast on Spike TV. And despite the fact that his bout didn't earn at least co-main-event status on the PPV card, the always-confident Ortiz said he's no less of a draw than in his heyday. "I'm at the press conference the other day, (and) everybody pays attention," he said. "On my Twitter, I have over 60,000 fans who follow me who pay attention, millions of fans across the United States who pay attention, and even the world. "I get people from Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Australia. [On Wednesday], we had an open workout at my gym, and a couple from Australia came in and hung out."

UFC veteran Tito Ortiz enters UFC 121 on thin ice, in more ways than one

World Victory Road's Sengoku Raiden Championships 13 event is starting to take shape, and the organization today announced that featherweight title-holder Masanori Kanehara (16-7-5 MMA, 4-1 SRC) will meet top challenger Marlon Sandro (16-1 MMA, 4-1 SRC). Maximo "Maxi" Blanco (5-2-1 MMA, 3-1 SRC) and Hiroshi Izumi (1-1 MMA, 1-1 SRC) were also announced for separate bouts at the event. Sengoku Raiden Championships 13 takes place June 20 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. The event airs in the U.S. on HDNet...

Champ Kanehara meets Sandro at Sengoku 13, Blanco and Izumi also added

The UFC today announced the matchup, bringing the total number of fights on the card to 11. Featuring a lightweight matchup between perennial contender Kenny Florian and Japanese import Takanori Gomi, UFC Fight Night 21 takes place March 31 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. The main card airs live on Spike TV and serves as the lead-in for "The Ultimate Fighter 11" season debut. Lentz was behind on the scorecards in his most recent octagon appearance against Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night 20, but a deduction to the Brazilian for an inadvertent groin kick in the final frame left the fight as a majority draw. It was a disappointing result for Lentz, a product of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, as he had earned seven-straight win over a near-two-year period since his most recent blemish, which, ironically enough, was a draw against WEC veteran Kyle Jensen. Lentz made a successful octagon debut this past September at UFC 103, where he defeated Rafaello Oliveira by decision. Emerson, meanwhile, got back on the winning track earlier this month when he defeated "The Ultimate Fighter 8" finalist Phillipe Nover at UFC 109.

Emerson vs. Lentz official; UFC Fight Night 21 complete with 11 bouts