UPDATE-Overeem Out, Mir Now Fights Junior dos Santos at UFC 146
 

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Frank Mir.


Although Alistair Overeem isn’t worriedabout obtaining a fight license from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to challenge heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, despite the fact he failed his pre-fight drug test after registering more than twice the legal limit for testosterone, UFC president Dana White is not taking any chances and has pulled Overeem from the title bout in favor of Frank Mir (Pictured).

Mir was originally slated to face Cain Velasquez in the May 26th show in a top contender contest. He is perfect through his past three fights and was last seen snapping Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s right arm in two at UFC 140 in December.

The 32-year-old originally captured the UFC heavyweight crown in 2004 before a motorcycle accident forced him to vacate the strap. Mir also won an interim belt in December of 2008 before losing a title unification bout to Brock Lesnar seven months later.

The shootout marks dos Santos’ first title defense. It took the Brazilian all of 64 seconds to put Velasquez to sleep this past November to capture the crown. He had his knee operated on shortly after and has been on the mend ever since.

Velasquez is expected to remain on the roster. However, there is no word on who he will face on Memorial Day weekend.

Overeem is scheduled to stand before the NSAC this Tuesday, but even if he’s able to pull a rabbit out of his hat, it will all be for naught.

Last month, “The Demolition Man” registered a Testosterone/Epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 14:1 in a surprise drug exam. The NSAC allows a T/E ratio of 6:1. Just in case you were wondering, the average male produces approximately a 1:1 ratio.

UFC 146 takes place inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Here is the card’s revised roster:

Preliminary Card:

Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda

Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig

Glover Teixeira vs. Kyle Kingsbury

(FX 8PM ET/5PM PT)

Paul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann

Jason “Mayhem” Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway

Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham

Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins

Main Card: (Pay-Per-View 10PM ET/7PM PT)

Cain Velasquez vs. TBD

Stephan Struve vs. Mark Hunt

Shane Del Rosario vs. Gabriel Gonzaga


Roy Nelson vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva

Frank Mir vs. Junior dos Santos (UFC Heavyweight Champion)

re: UPDATE-Overeem Out, Mir Now Fights Junior dos Santos at UFC 146
 

Overeem’s UFC Future in Limbo; White Not Optimistic About Upcoming Hearing

Posted on 22 April 2012 Bleacherreport



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Former K-1, Strikeforce and Dream champion Alistair Overeem is in an uphill battle after having a drug test come back indicating how his testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio was at 14:1, well above the 6:1 limit the Nevada State Athletic Commission allows athletes.

Overeem’s unusually high t/e ratio has produced much controversy in the media and has angered UFC president Dana White immensely. The day that Overeem drug test result was made public, White was livid.

His anger hasn’t seemed to fade. Following Saturday night’s UFC 145 post-fight press conference, White said, “I have not and I will not (talk to Overeem about the drug test),” after last week saying he didn’t want to talk about it even with reporters, presumably for fear of not being able to keep his emotions in check.

On Friday this week, White announced on twitter that former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir would replace Overeem. The boss has a business to run and wasn’t about to wait around when he wasn’t too confident in Overeem’s chances of pleading his case before the athletic commission on Tuesday.

“We were right up on deadlines for a lot of things we needed to do to promote a pay-per-view and I’m not very optimistic on Tuesday,” White said.

Overeem’s chances of being licensed by the commission don’t look promising, and losing his title shot is another fatal blow to his career right now, but White isn’t going to risk a title fight on the outcome of his hearing.

While White said, “I do business with Tito; I think I can do business with Alistair,” he wasn’t definitive about Overeem’s future with the UFC.

When asked if the statement about Tito Ortiz meant that Overeem was not in danger of being cut from the roster, White would only say, “I don’t know. We’ll see what happens man.”...........

Re: UPDATE-Overeem Out, Mir Now Fights Junior dos Santos at UFC 146
 

Overeem's Official Excuse

By Bleachers Report 23 April 2012

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Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Alistair Overeem Releases Statement Regarding His Elevated Testosterone Levels

The question of who would compete in the main event at UFC 146 was answered late on Friday night when UFC president Dana White tweeted that UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos would defend his title against Frank Mir instead of Alistair Overeem. Overeem’s spot on the fight card was jeopardized after a surprise drug test revealed that his testosterone to epitestosterone level was 14 to 1, far above the allowable limit of 6 to 1.

Following the test, Overeem applied for a license to fight on the May 26 card and was given a date of April 24 to meet with the Nevada State Athletic Commission to discuss that application.


On Monday, Overeem, through his management, Authentic Sports Management, released a statement to media outlets, which Bleacher Report received, discussing the test results and his removal from the UFC 146 main event:

Quote:

To my friends and fans, I am deeply saddened to announce that on Friday, April 20, I respectfully withdrew from the May 26 event so that I can request a continuance until my situation with the Nevada State Athletic Commission is resolved. I cannot express how sorry I am to the Commission, Junior Dos Santos, the fans, the owners and employees of the UFC, my friends and family and anyone else who this has affected. I absolutely do not believe in, nor do I use performance-enhancing drugs. I am a clean fighter and I will do whatever it takes to prove this to everyone. Prior to the UFC 146 press conference in March, I aggravated an old rib injury on my left side. My doctor prescribed, and I accepted, an anti-inflammatory medication that was mixed with testosterone. I was completely unaware that testosterone was one of the ingredients in the medication. Although I was unaware, I do realize it is my job to know what I am putting into my body. I respect the Nevada Commissioners and Executive Director Keith Kizer and what they are doing to keep the sport of mixed martial arts regulated and safe for athletes. I look forward to working with them in the days and weeks ahead. Friends and fans, I ask for your patience as I work through this matter. Please support me. I promise to return to the Octagon soon.

Overeem’s fate now rests in the hands of the NSAC. Bleacher Report will have a report on Tuesday’s hearing.