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Alistair Overeem parted ways with the Blackzilians MMA camp last year shortly after his knockout loss to Travis Browne at UFC Fight Night 26.
Following his departure, reports out of the Boca Raton, Florida-based camp surfaced that "The Reem" wasn't exactly the ideal teammate, as many of his former training partners, Anthony Johnson included, spoke out about his refusal to be a part of the team.
Instead, Overeem preferred to train on his own with his personal crew that he brought in. More recently, another former training partner accused Overeem of deliberately hurting another teammate after he was getting schooled on the feet.
But, that was then and this is now, and Alistair seems to have found a new home in perhaps the best fight camp in the world, Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Before he makes his way to the 505, however, the aforementioned Browne has a message for "The Reem," as he declared on "The MMA Hour" that the striking Dutchman will not be catered to, much like he was at the Blackzilians camp.
"Hapa's" words:
"I think everybody's due a chance. Just because he wasn't the best teammate there, doesn't mean he can't be a good teammate here. When he comes to Jackson's, the stuff that all his other teammates were saying he did, is not going to fly at Jackson's. He will not have the opportunity to even let it get that far. Does that make sense? If he says, 'hey coach, I'm going to bring my own guys and work out at night.' Coach Jackson will be like, 'you can either train with the team, or you can leave.' I feel like a lot of people, because he's Alistair Overeem, have catered to him. I feel like Blackzilians probably catered to him, so he got used to it and he felt like he could throw his weight around a little bit. At Jackson's, it's not going to fly. You're either part of the team or your not. If you're not part of the team, you can get the hell out out of here. We don't need you here. We didn't ask you to come here, you asked to come here, so you see something here that you need. So, you're either part of the team, or leave."
Indeed, there's a reason why Jackson's MMA is perhaps the most successful camp in the game today, as the cohesiveness of the team seems to be a big factor for their glory.
That, and Greg Jackson, apparently, runs his camp with an iron fist. Basically, you follow the rules, be a part of the team or you can get the hell out of Dodge.
Not to mention that well-established veterans, champions and former champions such as Jon Jones, Carlos Condit, Donald Cerrone, Diego Sanchez, Andrie Arlovski, and Browne himself, just to name a few, will be quick to put "The Reem" in check should he stray from the pack.
Anybody think Overeem can make a change for the better once he touches down in New Mexico to join his new camp? And can that change lead to a new, improved, and more dangerous fighter?