UFC 156: Alistair Overeem Licensed to Fight Antonio Silva by NSAC

Alistair Overeem

Overeem Licensed by NSAC, Fights Silva at UFC 156

After facing a nine month suspension due to a failed drug test, the wait is over as Alistair Overeem has finally been given a fighter's license by the Nevada state athletic commission. Overeem is cleared for his planned fight with Antonio Silva at UFC 156 following a unanimous vote by the commission to grant him a fighting license for a second time.

MMAjunkie's John Morgan provided a detailed play-by-play of Overeem's hearing with the NSAC and why he was once again given permission to compete as a professional mixed martial artist:

"The Reem" appeared before a five person panel at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas Tuesday morning. In order to gain his license, Overeem had send in five clean self-administered drug tests between June and December in addition to passing two more tests through the commission on November 16th and December 21st. As commission director Keith Kizer stated, no illegal substances were found in these tests.

Overeem also made it clear that he had a new nutritionist and team of medical experts to help monitor his body systems. The Dutch kickboxer went on to describe the recovery process in his brief hearing.

"I think we did everything we could to correct ourselves from the errors that were made. I'm ready to get my life back on track."

Alistair Overeem was subjected to a surprise test on March 27, 2012 immediately after a press conference for UFC 146, which was supposed to feature Overeem challenging Junior Dos Santos for the heavyweight championship. The NSAC then reported that Overeem produced a testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio of 14:1, well over the NSAC cutoff of 6:1.

Overeem explained to the commission the following the month that the testosterone levels were a result of a Texas doctor named Hector Molina who injected Overeem with an anti-inflammatory that unknowingly contained testosterone as well. The NSAC responded by denying Overeem's request for a fighting license and forcing him to wait nine months to re-apply.

Even though Overeem obviously lost his chance to fight Dos Santos for the championship belt, it is more than likely that if he can put Silva away similar to the way he retired Brock Lesnar in December of 2011, he will be granted a shot at Cain Velasquez, the current UFC heavyweight champion.

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