UFC
UFC's Alistair Overeem: "I'll be back in nine months. I'm still going to get that belt."
May 22, 2012 - 7:30:39 PM

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"I greatly respect the commission; I respect their decision. They come across as gentlemen and gentlewomen, very respectful, very understanding of the situation... Basically, we're going to be out for nine months, but I consider myself a clever guy. I'm going to get stronger from this, I'm going to keep training, and I'll be back in nine months. I'm still going to get that belt."

-Alistair Overeem comments on his nine month license denial in the latest episode of his ongoing online documentary "The Reem" (transcribed by MMAWeekly.com).

Penick's Analysis: Here's a lesson for fighters dealing with the NSAC: give us a story, any story, and we'll go light on you; challenge us or our policies, you're getting the book thrown at you. That's the story they're telling fighters with how they've handled several recent cases, notably Overeem here, Chael Sonnen, and Nick Diaz. Overeem wasn't officially suspended, but the time he's kept out of action was considerably reduced. Chael Sonnen was given a pass for TRT use despite a more than questionable history of conduct in regards to commission communications. Nick Diaz then, who questioned a code ripe for challenging in the NSAC's bylaws, had his case essentially ignored. That's the situation we've got here, and Overeem's going to be free to return after his nine month time period runs up in December.

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