Tag: MMA suspensions

According to Alistair Overeem, Alistair Overeem Will Be Fighting in December


(As Dennis Reynolds once said, “I’m not gonna take no for an answer, because I just refuse to do that. Because I’m a winner, and winners… we don’t listen to words like ‘no,’ or ‘don’t,’ or ‘STOP!”) 

Either our math is a little off, or Alistair Overeem has literally gotten so strong that he can both fly and alter the very fabric of time using the power of his centrifugal forces. Because, according to a recent tweet sent out by “The Reem,” the former Dream and Strikeforce heavyweight champion will be back in action this December, despite the fact that he received a nine month suspension just under two months ago:

Well at least he gave you fair warning, Amish communities of Florida.

As he was told in his April hearing, the earliest Alistair could reapply for his license would be December 27th, meaning that the earliest he could compete would be in the UFC’s always loaded New Year’s Eve card, exactly one year after he demolished Brock Lesnar at UFC 141.


(As Dennis Reynolds once said, “I’m not gonna take no for an answer, because I just refuse to do that. Because I’m a winner, and winners… we don’t listen to words like ‘no,’ or ‘don’t,’ or ‘STOP!”) 

Either our math is a little off, or Alistair Overeem has literally gotten so strong that he can both fly and alter the very fabric of time using the power of his centrifugal forces. Because, according to a recent tweet sent out by “The Reem,” the former Dream and Strikeforce heavyweight champion will be back in action this December, despite the fact that he received a nine month suspension just under two months ago:

Well at least he gave you fair warning, Amish communities of Florida.

As he was told in his April hearing, the earliest Alistair could reapply for his license would be December 27th, meaning that the earliest he could compete would be in the UFC’s always loaded New Year’s Eve card, exactly one year after he demolished Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. Fun fact: Overeem is 3-0 in MMA on New year’s Eve cards, with all of those wins coming by TKO.

But if Ubereem really is somehow already scheduled for that card based on the assumption that he will undoubtedly receive a license just a few days before a fight, this could spell potential disaster for the UFC. Like, UFC 149 levels of disaster. And given the run of luck the promotion has had as of late, we’d think they’d be a little hesitant to take a risk as big as this, so perhaps Overeem’s tweet was more of a general reminder than anything else.

Given that the Nevada State Athletic Commission was basically giving Overeem a handy under the table before they doled out his suspension, constantly reminding him (likely out of fear) how much they respected him as both an athlete and a human being, to believe that Overeem would be denied his license, barring any major screw-ups on his part, of course, would seem a little off kilter. Then again, booking a likely headlining event with a guy who doesn’t even have a license to fight at time doesn’t exactly strike us as a genius move either.

Also contradicting Overeem’s tweet was a recent tidbit that Lorenzo Fertitta recently told ESPN.com:

That’s speculation. It’s in the NSAC’s hands. (The UFC) can’t be presumptuous.

So is Overeem just yanking our collective chains, or has he really been booked for what will undoubtedly be the biggest card of the year? Do any of you expect to see him competing by the end of 2012? And if so, who would you like to see him face?

And while we’re talking about UFC 149 (because we kind of were for a second there), check out this hilarious fan-made poster for the event, which is easily the most telling poster in UFC history:


(Props to the UG and Middleasy for the find.) 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, yet this one perfectly sums up UFC 149 without using a one of them, does it not?

–J. Jones

UFC 141 Medical Suspensions: Lesnar Gets 6 Months, Takes Out Frustrations on Cameraman

(I bet if that cameraman had been The Undertaker, Lesnar would have just let him do his job. Video props via MiddleEasy.)

OK, so maybe the above video was taken in the aftermath of Brock Lesnar’s first round TKO loss to Alistair Overeem, but we imagine he had a similar reaction when informed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that he must have an abdominal injury cleared by a doctor before he can compete in any physical activity for the next 6 months. Remember, given his recent retirement, the “physical activity” that Lesnar would be limited from would be his two favorite things, illegally tag-and-bagging mule deer and “getting on top of his wife.” Livestrong, Mr. Lesnar. BTW, that was kind of a dick move, shoving a poor cameraman like that. Way to go out with class.

But Lesnar was not the only fighter who walked out of UFC 141 facing a possible 6 month suspension. Nate Diaz, who, after out landing Donald Cerrone by over 150 strikes, somehow faces a longer suspension than that of “The Cowboy” — Diaz must have his right eye cleared by an ophthalmologist or will also be out of action until June 28th.

Join us after the jump for the full list. 


(I bet if that cameraman had been The Undertaker, Lesnar would have just let him do his job. Video props via MiddleEasy.)

OK, so maybe the above video was taken in the aftermath of Brock Lesnar’s first round TKO loss to Alistair Overeem, but we imagine he had a similar reaction when informed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that he must have an abdominal injury cleared by a doctor before he can compete in any physical activity for the next 6 months. Remember, given his recent retirement, the “physical activity” that Lesnar would be limited from would be his two favorite things, illegally tag-and-bagging mule deer and “getting on top of his wife.” Livestrong, Mr. Lesnar. BTW, that was kind of a dick move, shoving a poor cameraman like that. Way to go out with class.

But Lesnar was not the only fighter who walked out of UFC 141 facing a possible 6 month suspension. Nate Diaz, who, after out landing Donald Cerrone by over 150 strikes, somehow faces a longer suspension than that of “The Cowboy” — Diaz must have his right eye cleared by an ophthalmologist or will also be out of action until June 28th.

UFC 141 medical suspensions:

Alistair Overeem: Suspended until Feb. 14; no contest until Jan. 30 for cuts on right eye

Brock Lesnar: Must have abdominal injury cleared by a doctor or no contest until June 28

Nate Diaz: Must be cleared by an ophthalmologist or no contest until June 28; minimum suspension, no contest until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21 for right eye injury

Donald Cerrone: Suspended until Feb. 14; no contact until Jan. 30 for cut on lower lip

Jon Fitch: Suspended until Feb.29; no contest until Feb. 14

Alexander Gustafsson: Suspended until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21 for right tibia contusion

Vladimir Matyushenko: Must have left knee cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until June 28; minimum suspension, no contest until Feb. 14; no contact until Jan. 30

Nam Phan: Suspended until Feb. 29; no contact until Feb. 14 for cut on right eyebrow

Junior Assuncao: Suspended until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21 for cut on right cheek

Dong Hyun Kim: Suspended until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21 for left foot contusion

Diego Nunes: Suspended until Feb. 14; no contact until Jan. 30 for cut on left eye

Manny Gamburyan: Must have right shoulder x-rayed and cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until June 28; minimum suspension, no contest until Jan. 30; no contact until Jan. 21

-Danga 

Chael Sonnen Placed Under Indefinite Suspension by CSAC; Hearing Set for May 18th


(Ignoring your problems won’t work forever.)

Even though Chael Sonnen completed his six-month suspension from the California State Athletic Commission back in March,  the CSAC isn’t quite ready to forgive and forget. MMA Weekly reported yesterday that Sonnen has been placed on an indefinite administrative suspension, pending a special hearing on May 18th. And why is California continuing to persecute America’s Greatest Hero? Says CSAC executive director George Dodd, “It’s based off two things. One, his pleading guilty to his felony conviction up in Oregon, as well as possibly providing false testimony during his hearing back in December.”

If you’ll recall, Sonnen originally claimed that he’d received approval for testosterone therapy from NSAC executive director Keith Kizer, then changed his story in the most ludicrous way possible when Kizer denied ever talking to him.


(Ignoring your problems won’t work forever.)

Even though Chael Sonnen completed his six-month suspension from the California State Athletic Commission back in March,  the CSAC isn’t quite ready to forgive and forget. MMA Weekly reported yesterday that Sonnen has been placed on an indefinite administrative suspension, pending a special hearing on May 18th. And why is California continuing to persecute America’s Greatest Hero? Says CSAC executive director George Dodd, “It’s based off two things. One, his pleading guilty to his felony conviction up in Oregon, as well as possibly providing false testimony during his hearing back in December.”

If you’ll recall, Sonnen originally claimed that he’d received approval for testosterone therapy from NSAC executive director Keith Kizer, then changed his story in the most ludicrous way possible when Kizer denied ever talking to him.

Along with the dodgy testimony back in December, Sonnen’s money-laundering drama was also an impetus for the suspension. George Dodd said he was concerned that Sonnen’s behavior was bringing “discredit to the mixed martial arts community.”

According to ESPN.com, the new administrative suspension puts Sonnen on the national database used by regulators to monitor medical and administrative bans, and asks North American regulatory bodies to contact California before issuing him a license to compete, corner, promote or act as a manager. Nevada has already chosen to honor the suspension.

Sonnen confirmed with ESPN.com that he’ll be attending the CSAC appeals hearing next Wednesday. The date of his follow-up meeting with the NSAC is still TBA. Can Sonnen charm his way through two important meetings without getting caught in multiple lies? No, probably not. More to come…