Alistair Overeem to fans who want him to retire: Sorry guys, I’m already in the gym!

Don’t expect UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem to retire after his brutal KO loss to Francis Ngannou.

Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and UFC contender Alistair Overeem was viciously knocked out by Francis Ngannou in the UFC 218 co-main event. Getting knocked out is nothing new for Overeem, as 13 of his 16 MMA losses have been by KO or TKO, including all five defeats suffered inside the Octagon.

With Overeem now 37 years old and seemingly out of the UFC heavyweight title picture, there have been calls for the Dutchman to call it a career. Overeem is aware of those shouts, and if you’re expecting a retirement announcement, you are greatly mistaken.

“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,” Overeem said. “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!”

Overeem may be in the gym, but he doesn’t have a fight booked. His 2017 may have ended with a monstrous KO defeat, but he did knockout Mark Hunt at UFC 209 and Fabricio Werdum by majority decision at UFC 213.