There was some rumblings over the past two days, that former Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem would not be facing former UFC champ Brock Lesnar at the end of the month.
The issue, Overeem had failed to take a random urine test after being notified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on November 17. ‘The Reem’s’ camp failed to even contact the commission for five days, finally going for a blood test on Nov. 23 in Holland. The test came back negative, but it was not what the NSAC had asked for.
Finally on Dec. 7, Overeem did submit to a urine test, one administered by his own doctor in Holland. This did not satisfy the NSAC either as they expected the Dutch fighter to undergo the testing under the supervision of a reputable facility.
The problem, according to Overeem, appears to be some miscommunication on the part of his assistants and due to the fact that he moved back to Holland to be closer to his ill mother. He says he bought the ticket on Nov. 15 and flew out on the 17th after filming the UFC Countdown show. This may have been his saving grace, otherwise it looked like he flew home after learning that he’d have to take a urine test.
Overeem also stated that he’d never done this type of drug testing before and was unfamiliar with the process used by the NSAC.
The NSAC seems to have been appeased, granting Overeem a license for the UFC 141 event. They have though, placed a condition on that license that will require the former Strikeforce champ submit to four more urine tests over the next six months.
He will have to submit to a urine test within the next 72 hours at a facility in either the UK or Germany, then he’ll have to submit another sample once he returns to the states, and then will have to submit to two more random tests within six months following UFC 141.
So it appears that, barring a positive drug test result, that Overeem will meet Brock Lesnar on Dec. 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in the headliner of UFC 141.