The report states that Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) President Sadaharu Tanigawa, in a news conference in Tokyo on November 27th, told reporters present that the rematch was to be held in the DREAM promotion, which also belongs to FEG.

Still, Tanigawa firmly stated that the planned fight will go on at a future date.

”Alistair is begging for this fight but this fight will not go ahead on New Years Eve at Fields Dynamite. We will look to match them up on a different card,” he said.

Overeem has gone to the press and stated that he believes the rematch is not happening because “Cro-Cop” is afraid:

“FEG wants to make it happen, I would like nothing more than get my hands on him again and I know that the fans would like to see a definite ending as well, so the only obstacle here is Cro Cop. He’s the one who hasn’t signed the contract yet and he’s the one who is trying to avoid fighting me again because he knows that he will get his ass kicked again.”

”Cro-Cop” was quick to respond to Overeem’s accusations.

The K-1, PRIDE FC, and UFC veteran invited Overeem to fight him in his basement. The bout would be streamed online and have neutral referees. Fight Linker also reports that, after some confusing statements made by “Cro-Cop” regarding the rematch, he will purportedly fight another opponent on New Year’s Eve. That report has not been confirmed.

The pair first met at DREAM.6 earlier this year. Their bout ended in a no contest in the first round when Overeem had kneed “Cro-Cop” in the groin. “Cro-Cop” could no longer continue the bout. Prior to the stoppage, Overeem landed flush strikes, eventually opening a cut over his opponent’s eye.

Speculation has already begun regarding Overeem’s opponent that evening. One persistent match-up that is constantly brought up would be a rubber match against fellow PRIDE FC heavyweight veteran Sergei Kharitonov.