Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced the addition of two of Europe’s most recognizable combat sports knockout artists to its Christmas Eve event in Dubai, as Dutch powerhouse and former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and K-1 World Grand Prix winner Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem (47-19, 25 KOs, 17 submissions in MMA) will make his pro boxing debut against former UFC light heavyweight contender Jimi “Poster Boy” Manuwa (1-0, 1 KO in boxing; 17-6, 15 KOs, 1 submission in MMA). Overeem-Manuwa will be a six-round heavyweight contest on Thursday, December 24th at Coca-Cola Arena. The matchup was unveiled during a Dubai press conference and adds another high-profile international showdown to the card headlined by global superstar Jake Paul against multi-time kickboxing world champion Cédric Doumbé of France. The event marks Paul’s first professional boxing appearance in Dubai as MVP continues its global expansion, bringing together some of the biggest names in combat sports for a Christmas Eve spectacle in one of the world’s premier entertainment destinations.
Netherland’s Alistair Overeem and the United Kingdom’s Jimi Manuwa are two of the most recognizable names in combat sports, with decades of experience competing against the best in the world and a combined 40 knockouts in MMA. Alistair is one of the most decorated heavyweights in history, and Jimi has built his career on delivering spectacular knockouts. Bringing these two legends together in a professional boxing match adds another compelling matchup to an already massive Christmas Eve event.
Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem is an accomplished and decorated heavyweight, [although not in boxing]. He's captured championship titles across MMA and kickboxing during a career spanning more than two decades. The Dutch powerhouse is a former Strikeforce heavyweight champion, interim Dream heavyweight champion, and winner of the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix, becoming the only fighter in history to simultaneously hold titles across all three organizations. Overeem compiled a 47-19 professional MMA record (1 no contest), including 42 stoppage victories, and competed against the sport’s biggest names across PRIDE, Strikeforce, DREAM, and the UFC. His career includes signature victories over Brock Lesnar, Junior dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum and Andrei Arlovski, as well as a challenge for the UFC heavyweight championship against Stipe Miocic in 2016. Now based in Dubai, the 46-year-old last competed in Glory kickboxing in October 2022 and will make his professional boxing debut on December 24th, bringing his world-class striking pedigree and devastating knockout power to the boxing ring.
Overeem said, "I’ve fought the best in the world, and I’ve been a world champion in multiple disciplines. Now I’m starting a new chapter in boxing, and I’m not here to make up the numbers. Jimi Manuwa is a dangerous man with serious knockout power, but I’ve built my career on taking the toughest challenges in combat sports. I grew up in the Netherlands, but Dubai is my home now, and on Christmas Eve I’m bringing the Demolition Man to Coca-Cola Arena. Jimi had better be ready, because I’m coming to put on a show. Once I stop Jimi, Rico Verhoeven is next on my hit list."
Jimi “Poster Boy” Manuwa is a former UFC light heavyweight contender known for his explosive punching power and aggressive fighting style. After beginning his professional MMA career in 2008, Manuwa captured the UCMMA light heavyweight championship and won his first 14 professional fights before establishing himself among the UFC’s most dangerous strikers. He retired from MMA in 2019 with a 17-6 record, with 15 of his 17 victories coming by knockout or technical knockout, an impressive 88% knockout rate. His career highlights include a spectacular first-round knockout of Corey Anderson at UFC Fight Night London in 2017, along with notable victories over Ovince Saint Preux and future UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz. The 46-year-old returned to competition in August 2026, making a successful professional boxing debut with a second-round TKO victory over former UFC heavyweight Chase Sherman on August 29 at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. Now 1-0 as a professional boxer, Manuwa will look to continue his undefeated start in the sport when he faces Overeem in Dubai.
Manuwa said, "London is in everything I do. Where I come from, pressure makes you, and it makes me. I’ve watched Alistair since I was coming up, and I know exactly what he’s capable of. That’s why I wanted this fight. After my win in Orlando, I wasn’t looking for an easy opponent. On Christmas Eve, one of us is going to sleep, and it’s not going to be me."
