Alistair Overeem had to receive an IV prior to UFC 209 fight with Mark Hunt

Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem had to receive an IV prior to his UFC 209 showdown with fellow knockout artist Mark Hunt.

“The Reem” was able to score a devastating third-round knockout victory over “The Super Samoan” on last night’s main card in Las Vegas.

However, according to UFC president Dana White fans were lucky that Alistair Overeem was even able to participate at the event.

“Did you know that he was sick,” White said after taking the microphone from Overeem. “So, he’s been in the hospital for 24 hours. Food poisoning. Throwing up and all the other pleasantries of food poisoning for 24 hours. He was in the hospital, brought him home, and we had to bring him back to the hospital. They had to fill him with bags of fluids, and IVs, and at one point he was afraid to leave his room because he couldn’t stop throwing up and everything else.”

He continued:

“[Alistair] did not want to turn down the fight. [Alistair] still came out and fought tonight and knocked out Mark Hunt. So, and more to his credit, didn’t say one word about it in his interview, and obviously hasn’t said it here yet. I just came in to thank him and tell him how much I respect him.”

Alistair Overeem, who has now won five of his last six octagon appearances, spoke to the media about the illness and how he was granted the use of an IV during last night’s UFC 209 post-fight press conference.

“So, we went through all the steps necessary,” Overeem stated. “I got really sick. Yesterday at the weigh-ins I was out. I was like low energy. I mean, I put on my acting face looking angry, but I had zero energy, and if i felt today as I did yesterday I would not have been able to perform. But, I went to the hospital, got an IV, slept very good, took something to help me sleep. I could get some food in yesterday even before sleeping and recovered kind of okay, and [I thought] yeah, we’re going to go for it. We’re going to do this!”

Who would you like to see “The Reem” fight in his next octagon appearance? Sound off PENN Nation!
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