--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if we were friends, I consider this…" description: "\"Even if we were friends, I consider this a sport, a competition, so there are no ill feelings towards any other fighter or whatever.\" — Alistair Overeem" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/alistair-overeem-16291_competition_even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this_1397359.jpg" --- # Even if we were friends, I consider this a sport, a… ![“Even if we were friends, I consider this a sport, a competition, so there are no ill feelings towards any other fighter or whatever.” quote by Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/alistair-overeem-16291_competition_even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this_1397359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/alistair-overeem-16291_competition_even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this_1397359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/alistair-overeem-16291_competition_even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this_1397359.jpg) > “Even if we were friends, I consider this a sport, a competition, so there are no ill feelings towards any other fighter or whatever.” [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even as friends, the speaker treats interactions as sport or competition, avoiding personal animosity. **In simple terms:** Treat rivalry as sport, not personal. Key Takeaway Compete with respect. Themes competition friendship sportsmanship Mood thoughtful neutral Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team sports - business negotiations - gaming - training Key Concepts psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - Can competition coexist with genuine friendship? - How to keep rivalry healthy? A Different Perspective May ignore deeper emotional impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [The main thing for me is to consider sport at an equal level as you would consider mathematics or poetry at school. It's another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/the-main-thing-for-me-is-to-consider-sport-at-an-equal-level-as-you/) [Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/) > [I love being on my bike, but I don't consider that a sport: it's too pleasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/i-love-being-on-my-bike-but-i-don-t-consider-that-a-sport-it-s-too/) [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) > [“I think you might be surprised how thin the lines between art and sports really are - some artists consider their craft a sport,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-zappia/i-think-you-might-be-surprised-how-thin-the-lines-between-art-and/) [Francesca Zappia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-zappia/) > [When I was playing, we didn't have to compete against everybody in the world. Now it's a truly global sport, so the competition's much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/when-i-was-playing-we-didn-t-have-to-compete-against-everybody-in-the/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [I look at sport and competition as something that has been personally enormously beneficial to me. It's helped me create life skills. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-cheek/i-look-at-sport-and-competition-as-something-that-has-been-personally/) Joey Cheek > [There is no life without sport and no sport without competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/there-is-no-life-without-sport-and-no-sport-without-competition/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [I have no problem with battling for a position. I have no problem trying to beat somebody out. It's a sport, competition, so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bell/i-have-no-problem-with-battling-for-a-position-i-have-no-problem/) [Chris Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bell/) > [I'm happy where I'm at now, but I want to show the world that I'm the No. 1 fighter. I want to prove it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-m-happy-where-i-m-at-now-but-i-want-to-show-the-world-that-i-m-the/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [I'm working relentlessly at becoming a better fighter than I was yesterday. I think I've really shown that I'm a more evolved fighter these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-m-working-relentlessly-at-becoming-a-better-fighter-than-i-was/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [I'm a fighter, I love boxing, it's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/i-m-a-fighter-i-love-boxing-it-s-what-i-do/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [“I'm not an alcoholic, I am freedom fighter against the teetotal taliban.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/i-m-not-an-alcoholic-i-am-freedom-fighter-against-the-teetotal-taliban/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [I'm not taking him lightly at all. I mean, Heiland, he's a good fighter. He's strong. He comes to fight every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermall-charlo/i-m-not-taking-him-lightly-at-all-i-mean-heiland-he-s-a-good-fighter/) [Jermall Charlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermall-charlo/) > [It's not about size, it's a science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ward/it-s-not-about-size-it-s-a-science/) [Andre Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ward/) > [I said that I was gonna smash him in three rounds, and that's what I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-said-that-i-was-gonna-smash-him-in-three-rounds-and-that-s-what-i/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) ## More by Alistair Overeem > [I'm working relentlessly at becoming a better fighter than I was yesterday. I think I've really shown that I'm a more evolved fighter these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-m-working-relentlessly-at-becoming-a-better-fighter-than-i-was/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [It was always my goal to go back to MMA because my passion is there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/it-was-always-my-goal-to-go-back-to-mma-because-my-passion-is-there/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [I'm not usually the guy who believes in aliens, UFOs or superstitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-m-not-usually-the-guy-who-believes-in-aliens-ufos-or-superstitions/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [I'm happy where I'm at now, but I want to show the world that I'm the No. 1 fighter. I want to prove it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-m-happy-where-i-m-at-now-but-i-want-to-show-the-world-that-i-m-the/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [The top 10 is really a media thing anyway unless you're the champion, but otherwise, it's always speculation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/the-top-10-is-really-a-media-thing-anyway-unless-you-re-the-champion/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [If I lose to Frank Mir, I have to find something else to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/if-i-lose-to-frank-mir-i-have-to-find-something-else-to-do/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [I heard there was a debate about fighting teammates, and if a fight should happen because the fans or promoter wants it, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-heard-there-was-a-debate-about-fighting-teammates-and-if-a-fight/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [I wanted to join the Army, but my eyesight wasn't good, so I quit school and my job to just focus on fighting. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-wanted-to-join-the-army-but-my-eyesight-wasn-t-good-so-i-quit/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [I do believe that Brock Lesnar will be coming back. I don't want to call it from retirement, but he is a huge draw,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-do-believe-that-brock-lesnar-will-be-coming-back-i-don-t-want-to/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [The UFC are doing a tremendous job of promoting the sport worldwide. The views about the sport haven't always been so positive here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/the-ufc-are-doing-a-tremendous-job-of-promoting-the-sport-worldwide/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [Every fight, honest to say, in this division, at this level, is a toss-up. It's a 50-50 chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/every-fight-honest-to-say-in-this-division-at-this-level-is-a-toss-up/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [There are not many heavyweight fighters to come by, so having so many sparring partners is a big luxury a lot of other fighters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/there-are-not-many-heavyweight-fighters-to-come-by-so-having-so-many/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [I have a nutritionist and a doctor. Everything is checked. Thoroughly. Everything I take is checked out first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-have-a-nutritionist-and-a-doctor-everything-is-checked-thoroughly/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [I don't have any concerns fighting a teammate. It's a sport. To me, it doesn't really mean anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/i-don-t-have-any-concerns-fighting-a-teammate-it-s-a-sport-to-me-it/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) > [When my entire focus is on training and just preparing... I just do 100-percent that and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/when-my-entire-focus-is-on-training-and-just-preparing-i-just-do-100/) [Alistair Overeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) [Explore all 40 Alistair Overeem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/) ## More Competition quotes > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [Our competition has always been anything that is wasting your time when you're bored at work. In a broad sense. We want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/our-competition-has-always-been-anything-that-is-wasting-your-time/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I've always considered making it legal for Americans to import their prescription drugs a free-trade issue. Imports create competition and keep domestic industry more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/i-ve-always-considered-making-it-legal-for-americans-to-import-their/) [Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/) > [Honestly, we’ll compete with everybody. I love competition. As long as people invent their own stuff, I love competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/honestly-we-ll-compete-with-everybody-i-love-competition-as-long-as/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [I try to keep up with everything - all wrestling across the board. I want to know what the competition is doing, what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/i-try-to-keep-up-with-everything-all-wrestling-across-the-board-i/) [Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/) > [Sometimes in England, people look down at the Europa League, but being from the continent, I've always realised what an important competition it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/sometimes-in-england-people-look-down-at-the-europa-league-but-being/) [Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/) > [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/) [John A. Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-passaro/) > [I've always written. When I was in school, the only teacher who ever liked me was my creative writing teacher. I used to enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-townes-earle/i-ve-always-written-when-i-was-in-school-the-only-teacher-who-ever/) [Justin Townes Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-townes-earle/) > [Competition between men is a fuel that's useful to us. We have to be careful that it doesn't tell the same story over too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-irwin/competition-between-men-is-a-fuel-that-s-useful-to-us-we-have-to-be/) [Bill Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-irwin/) [Browse all 3,894 Competition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even if we were friends, I consider this a sport, a competition, so there are no ill feelings towards any other fighter or whatever.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alistair Overeem" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this-a-sport-a-competition-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Competition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this-a-sport-a-competition-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/alistair-overeem-16291_competition_even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this_1397359.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/alistair-overeem-16291_competition_even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this_1397359.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/alistair-overeem-16291_competition_even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this_1397359.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even if we were friends, I consider this a sport, a competition, so there are no ill feelings towards any…” — Alistair Overeem", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alistair Overeem", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-overeem/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even if we were friends, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this-a-sport-a-competition-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-overeem/even-if-we-were-friends-i-consider-this-a-sport-a-competition-so/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```