Alistair Overeem has won just about everything available to a mixed martial artists outside of the UFC. The giant Dutchman is a former Strikeforce and DREAM heavyweight champion, as well as a winner of the K-1 Grand Prix (which made him one of only two fighters in history to hold kickboxing and MMA titles simultaneously). 

However, one title in particular has eluded him throughout his career — the UFC heavyweight belt.

Overeem was defeated by current champion Stipe Miocic in his first, and so far only, UFC title bout in September of last year but successive wins against Mark Hunt and Fabricio Werdum earned him a number one contender bout against surging heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou and, once the dust settled, it was the French-Cameroonian who will move forward to challenge Miocic next month.

Despite being knocked out for the 11th time in his career, the soon-to-be 38 year old Overeem has nixed any ideas that his next move should involve hanging up the 4-oz gloves.

Writing on Twitter, Overeem wished both men in the heavyweight title match-up luck and confirmed that he is already back in training after the Ngannou loss — and that retirement is the furthest thing from his mind.

Unfortunately it isn’t my face on the UFC 220 poster but still as a fight fan I can say it’s going to be a good scrap. I don’t really have a favorite so may the best man win and for all the people that are telling that I should retire. Sorry guys I’m already in the gym! pic.twitter.com/Os3ODKhVlN

— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) December 21, 2017

Overeem is 6-2 in his last eight UFC bouts, with both of those losses coming to the two top fighters in the division. It remains to be seen how many bouts Overeem might expect to have to win before placing himself in the title picture once again. Another loss, though, and you feel ‘Demolition Man’ may well have to abandon his championship hopes.