Alistair Overeem (36-11 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will get his day in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission next week, but UFC officials aren't waiting around.
UFC president Dana White announced late Friday night that Overeem has been pulled from the main event of UFC 146, and Frank Mir (16-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) will now face Junior Dos Santos (14-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) for the UFC heavyweight title.
Mir was originally expected to face Cain Velasquez (9-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC). White did not immediately reveal if Velasquez will receive a new opponent.
Dos Santos, of course, was slated to face former Strikeforce champion Overeem in the main event of UFC 146, which takes place May 26 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, a recent pre-fight drug test that flagged Overeem for elevated levels of testosterone left his licensing status in doubt.
Overeem is scheduled to appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday in an effort to gain licensure. His camp has yet to reveal exactly what their defense will be in front of the commission, but UFC officials have apparently decided to move forward now.
MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) attempted unsuccessfully to reach White for further comment.
Mir enters the fight on the strength of a three-fight win streak. The former heavyweight champion is 8-2 in his past 10 fights and has downed Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Roy Nelson and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic.
While Velasquez's status is currently uncertain, on Thursday the former champion told MMAjunkie.com he'd be happy to fight anyone on the UFC roster provided a win would move him closer to a shot at the heavyweight title he lost in late 2011.
"It doesn't matter who it would be, just as long as it's one more to get in that same position to fight for that heavyweight title," Velasquez said.
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