UFC
UFC 146: Alistair Overeem applies for license with NSAC, UFC not making decision until after April 24 hearing
Apr 9, 2012 - 9:45:13 AM UFC 146: Alistair Overeem applies for license with NSAC, UFC not making decision until after April 24 hearing

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Alistair Overeem has taken the next step to move towards a UFC 146 fight with Junior dos Santos, as several published reports over the weekend state that he has applied for a license with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Overeem failed a random pre-fight drug test last week with an elevated T/E ratio, and will appear in front of the NSAC at their April 24 commission meeting to address the issue. Overeem was unlicensed when the test took place, as his conditional license with the NSAC for his UFC 141 bout with Brock Lesnar expired on Dec. 31.

Because he was not licensed at the time of the test, he can not be suspended by the commission. However, they can deny him a license, which would make him ineligible to apply for at least a year, a length of time that would likely be adhered to by commissions in other states due to the nature of the denial.

If that happens, he would be out of the Heavyweight Championship bout with dos Santos in May, and could potentially face release from the UFC. For their part, the UFC is not making any decisions on his potential replacement until after this commission hearing on the 24th.

Penick's Analysis: Overeem's camp still has not requested the testing of his "B" sample, so it appears they'll be attempting to explain the elevated levels rather than contest them. If he has some type of explanation as to why his levels were as high as they were, it's going to need to be a massively convincing argument. However, considering the issue he had with them just last October and November that led to being granted a conditional license for the Lesnar fight, I'm not confident that anything he says is going to get him very far. 14:1 for his T/E ratio is awfully high to have any realistic - or at least swaying - explanation at this time.

[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]