Overeem always planned to stay with UFC

The way Alistair Overeem tells it, he only considered one promotion during his brief period of free agency.

Overeem re-signed with the UFC on Monday, ensuring he'll remain a major player in their heavyweight division. Speaking to Ariel Helwani on "The MMA Hour," Overeem explained why there were so few guests at the negotiating table.

"I didn't talk to anybody else," Overeem said, according to Chuck Mindenhall of MMAFighting.com. "But I can tell you this, also - the UFC is where the best fighters are at, and I consider myself the best fighter. I belong in the UFC. That's how simple it is."

Free agency couldn't have come at a better time for Overeem. He closed out his contract with a knockout win over former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. While Overeem has been inconsistent over the past few years, a finish against a perennial top three heavyweight has him closer to a title shot than ever.

Adding the UFC belt to his mantle was one of the most important factors for "The Demolition Man."

"I look at everything," Overeem said. "I look at appreciation, you need to feel appreciated, and you need to feel respected. Of course, finances is a little part of the equation as well.

"But I do have to agree with you that the big part is that UFC title. I mean, that’s the one that’s missing. I still have a couple of good years left in me. So yeah, logically speaking, if that’s the one’s that’s missing, you’re going to go for the highest one out there and that’s the UFC strap."