Look, I know we’re reaching the point of over-saturation on this Alistair Overeem story. But the truth is, just when I’m ready to put it to bed and look forward to awesome things—like UFC 146, the biggest UFC card in history—something else happens to bring it right back to the forefront of the news cycle.
Today’s most relevant piece of news comes to you courtesy of Dana White, who appeared on Jim Rome’s nationally syndicated radio show this morning to discuss the Alistair Overeem situation. Rome asked White for his thoughts on the nine-month suspension handed down yesterday by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
White confessed that it was the first time he was hearing the news due to a busy travel schedule. He said:
Yeah, it’s the first I’ve heard of that. I knew he was going before the commission, but I didn’t know what happened. I wasn’t optimistic about his chances. I didn’t think things were going to turn out very well for him. It’s just as I expected. Nine months? Nine months isn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I thought he would get a year. Easily a year.
White also said he’s unsure what Overeem’s future holds with the UFC, telling Rome:
We’ll see what happens. We’ll see what happens, man. He went before the commission. They gave him nine months. I’m sure he’s going to have to go in and test again. Before he went in there, he sat down to lunch with me and my partner. He said, “I’m the most tested athlete in all of sports. They can test me whenever they want.” Well, he flew in for the press conference, they tested him, and now he’s suspended for nine months.
Rome asked if White felt Overeem was lying to him.
“I do, yeah. I know he lied to me,” White said.
Do I think White will end up cutting Overeem from the UFC? No, I don’t.
I think Alistair will be back in the cage just in time for the big year-end show in December, just like the Nevada commission begged him to do yesterday.
But Overeem should understand that White is not happy with him, and most folks don’t get a second chance to anger the boss.
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