Alistair Overeem vs Jimi Manuwa boxing match set as co-main event in Dubai on December 24

Former UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem and former UFC light heavyweight Jimi Manuwa will meet in a professional boxing match on Thursday, December 24, at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The sanctioned six-round heavyweight bout will serve as the co-main event of Most Valuable Promotions' Christmas Eve card, headlined by Jake Paul against Cedric Doumbe, officials announced at Thursday's press conference in Dubai, ESPN's Brett Okamoto reported.

Ariel Helwani also reported the addition on X, noting it will be Overeem's first fight of any kind since October 2022. Both men will be making their professional boxing debuts.

Overeem: 'Not here to make up the numbers'

Overeem, 46, from the Netherlands, won MMA and kickboxing titles in Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1. He challenged Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title in 2016, losing by first-round stoppage, and holds MMA wins over Brock Lesnar, Frank Mir, Junior dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum.

"I've fought the best in the world, and I've been a world champion in multiple disciplines," Overeem said, as quoted by ESPN. "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."

Last month Overeem publicly called out Rico Verhoeven, telling the kickboxing star to "stop hiding" and asking for a boxing match on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua card. That fight did not materialise.

Manuwa: 'That's why I wanted this fight'

Manuwa, 46, from England, left the UFC in 2019 with a promotional record of 6-6. He scored five knockout wins in the UFC but ended his run with the promotion on a four-fight losing streak, according to ESPN.

"Where I come from, pressure makes you, and it makes me," Manuwa said. "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."

The Dubai card

• Main event: Jake Paul vs Cedric Doumbe, eight-round cruiserweight bout at 200 lbs with 10-oz gloves
• Co-main event: Alistair Overeem vs Jimi Manuwa, six-round heavyweight bout

Paul returns for the first time since his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December 2025, in which he suffered a broken jaw. Doumbe, a former two-time GLORY welterweight champion, is signed to the PFL. According to MVP, tickets go on general sale on Sunday, November 15, with a presale starting on Saturday, November 14.