UPDATE: UFC 141: Rumors of Overeem Out of Main Event Still Out There

No matter how much Dana White wants to deny the rumours of Alistair Overeem being taken off the UFC 141 Main Event, those rumors are still flying. I’m of the belief that where there is smoke there is fire. It all started when Kevin Iole from Yahoo/Sports sent out a tweet near the end of UFC 140.

Kevin Iole tweeted:

“Hearing could be a change in UFC 141 main event. Overeem may be out of the fight.”

That tweet alone sent shock waves through the UFC Universe but what made it even more interesting was when Josh Gross from ESPN added more fuel to the fire with his tweet.

On Sunday, Gross tweeted:

“White denies Overeem is off the Lesnar card. But Alistair is on Mon.’s NSAC agenda. I’ve heard possibly in connection w/ prefight drug test.”

Again we can’t say this enough this is only rumour but after carefully checking the NASC agenda Alistair Overeem is on the list. Now whether that has to do with a licensing technicality, or a failed drug test has not yet been determined. Overeem has been under the gun for years about apparent PED abuse. He went from being a small Light Heavyweight to a giant of a man. He attributes most of that muscle mass to eating a diet that is high in protein and calories like horse meat.  Maybe Alistair and Barry Bonds ate at the same restaurant. There are many people out there who believe that Overeem still uses some sort of PED. It wouldn’t be a big shock to many if “The Reem” tests positive for some sort of banned substance.

We will know more this afternoon about the status of the UFC 141 Main Event. You can’t blame Dana White for denying the rumours as maybe  the UFC is still probably trying to figure out what they are going to do if Overeem is told that he can’t fight at 141. Also the denial is another way to say “no comment” because the UFC won’t know until the Nevada State Athletic Commission comes down with their ruling. Another rumour circulating is that Frank Mir could be a late fill in to save the Main Event at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on December 30^th.

Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir 3 would not only be a great replacement fight, but it could still give either fighter a chance at becoming the number one contender for a shot at the UFC Heavyweight title. Of course Mir would have to pass a strict medical exam, since he just fought at UFC 140 where he did take a few big shots to the head before brutally submitting “Big Nog” with a vicious Kimura. If Mir is cleared we could finally see the rubber match that both fighters have wanted for a while.

­­­­­­­­­Personally, I’d like to see the current Main Event saved. Let’s hope that NSAC hearing this afternoon is about a technicality and not about another failed drug test. The sport really doesn’t need the bad press, and the UFC doesn’t need more musical chairs when it comes to money making Main Event.

For the record Alistair Overeem has abandoned his training in Las Vegas and has flown back to Denmark. That alone seems to be bizarre but he has stated it’s because he wants to be with a sick family member.

We shall see.

UPDATE: Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer had this to say about the rumors:

This will likely be cleared up on Monday as Overeem is scheduled to apply for his license before the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Usually fighters licenses are rubber stamped unless there is an extenuating circumstance. People have noted Overeem, Keith Jardine and Vladimir Matyushenko all have license hearings on Monday, but in the case of the latter two, it is standard procedure for fighters over 35 to take more extensive medical tests and the process for granting the license isn’t rubber stamped. Overeem’s name on the list means there is a reason he needs to be there that is not specified, and Overeem is not over 35 years old.

Dana White denied Overeem was injured when asked and also that anything has changed regarding the fight. There is nothing going around about an injury that we’ve heard to begin with. Overeem left Las Vegas, where he had been training, to return to Holland. He said in his yahoo.com blog that it was because his mother had cancer. Regarding a steroid test, we’ve been able to confirm that Lesnar was asked to take a test a few weeks back and did. It is usual practice in Nevada if they are going to do a random unannounced pre-fight test of a major main event, they will test both fighters.

Several major MMA reporters including Kevin Iole and Josh Gross have hinted something is amiss and there were strong rumors last night that Mir would face Lesnar, even though White denied them. If it regards a pending hearing that hasn’t happened, while behind the scenes White would no doubt be preparing for any outcome, he has to publicly say the fight is on, because right now, the fight is on. Mir said he was willing to take the fight.

Stay tuned to MMASucka.com for more updates as they come in.

-Corner Man-

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