Former UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem married his partner Sophie on Sunday at the iconic Lovrijenac Fortress in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
The 45-year-old combat sports legend, standing at an imposing 6’4″ (193 cm), and his significantly shorter bride (reportedly around 5’5″ or 165 cm) created a striking visual reminiscent of another famous couple with a dramatic height difference—strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (The Mountain from Game of Thrones) and his wife Kelsey Henson, who stands at just 5’2″.
Social media erupted with good-natured comments about the couple’s height disparity after Overeem posted a romantic pre-wedding photo with the caption:
“Today is the big day.. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you baby ❤️”
The image showed the towering Overeem bending significantly to kiss his petite fiancée, prompting one follower to comment: “Uberreem” in a post that garnered over 170 likes. Others drew direct comparisons to Björnsson and his wife, noting the similar dynamic between the couples.
The Netherlands-raised star has long been enamored with Croatia, often visiting the coastal nation and becoming something of an unofficial ambassador for the country.
“In the summer, Croatia is one of the best places in the world and everywhere I go, I tell people,” Overeem has previously said. “When I’m in America, I’m always talking about the Croatian coast. Split and Dubrovnik are beautiful cities. Americans have never experienced anything like this. I always say – go to Croatia.”
The ceremony reflected this deep connection, with Croatian strength and conditioning coach Ante Bonačić, who has worked with Overeem since 2008, serving as best man.
Before the fortress ceremony, guests gathered in Split and traveled by boat to Dubrovnik, where the couple shared a heartfelt message:
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for travelling all the way to Croatia to celebrate this special weekend with us.”
Dubrovnik is the infamous location shoot for Game Of Thrones Kings Landing — which is a curious fact considering Overeem‘s fiancée’s platinum blonde hairdo.
The marriage marks a joyful new chapter for Overeem, whose illustrious MMA career included championship titles in Dream, Strikeforce, and K-1, as well as a UFC heavyweight title shot.
Many fellow stars offered their congratulations on social media, including Derek Brunson and Volkan Oezdemir. One fan summed up the sentiment shared by many:
“She’s beautiful! Congrats to you both!”
The couple, who share two daughters, Yazz-Ley and Sensi-Liss, now embark on this next phase of their relationship with the stunning Adriatic coastline as backdrop to their love story.
Overeem has an interesting personal story too — he is a descendant of an illegal child of the king of Netherlands.
