In assessing the increasing proportions of Alistair Overeem, the analogy (thankfully) ceases to work: Overeem, who looks to have softballs stuffed in his arms, makes He-Man look like a malnourished hobo. Combat sports usually strip you of lean mass through intense conditioning -- the same conditioning that burns so many calories you can’t usually entertain the idea of putting weight on.
Yet Overeem continues to grow. In this K-1 promotional video, he discusses his nutritional choices. “I like beef,” he says, hovering over a frying pan. “Beef makes you strong. Cow beef, horse beef…horse is very good protein. Better than beef.” He rattles off more from the menu: Yogurt, quark, potatoes, nuts, fish, and genetics. “My mother’s a strong woman, big.”
Overeem competes in the K-1 Grand Prix, an eight-man elimination tournament, Saturday.