April 4, 2012 – As just about everyone plugged into the internet has heard over the last few hours, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has issued a release stating that the UFC’s #1 contender Alistair Overeem tested positive for an increased T/E ratio, which is an indicator of possible steroid use following a surprise round of PED/drug testing after the initial UFC 14 press conference just last month.
Here’s the official release from NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer:
The following athletes were tested on March 27: Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Roy Nelson and Antonio Silva. All test results were negative, except Mr. Overeem tested positive for an increased T/E ratio (> 10). Mr. Overeem will need to appear before the Commission if he seeks licensure.
So what does this all mean?
Well the first and most obvious thing is that the headlining championship bout between current champ Junior dos Santos and the ‘Reem is in grave jeopardy.
“”I am beyond pissed about this. I’m so (expletive) mad right now I can’t even begin…”
That’s all UFC President Dana White has to say so far after hearing the news literally while on a conference call with Canadian media, including The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix.
“The worst part is that he sat in front of us and lied to us. How (expletive) stupid do you have to be? Seriously dumb. Anybody who’s using (performance-enhancing drugs) right now is an absolute (expletive) moron…”
“It’s beyond – what’s the word I’m looking for – it’s beyond belief. It’s beyond comprehension. You’re an absolute moron, a brain-dead absolute (expletive) dummy. It goes beyond a guy have any common sense whatsoever.”
Referring to the fight, all Dana said he currently does not have a Plan B.
So with all this happening, what should “Plan B” actually be? It would be easier to fill the slot opposite dos Santos if UFC 146 wasn’t already a heavyweight supercard anyways. That was to be the main draw with entire PPV card featuring an all-heavyweight heavyweight lineup that was to showcase the division. Does that remain the plan? Will Junior still defend the title? Or will they scrap the main event altogether?
They could shuffle the card that currently has Cain Velasquez taking on Frank Mir, Roy Nelson taking on Antonio Silva, and several other heavyweights on the mid-card level facing each other to move their own stocks up but does that make sense or only create more chaos?
For his part, we hear Frank Mir is already lobbying to get the call but let’s say they stay the course. Who else is left to tango with the Adele-loving affable Brazilian?
Here’s a few options to consider:
Pull Frank Mir from his planned fight and give him his title shot – He’s won 3 in a row and has impressed throughout, knocking out CroCop, thoroughly bloodying and beating Roy Nelson, and breaking Big Nog’s arm in the armbar heard around the world. If there’s a de facto #1 contender currently in the UFC right now given Alistair’s probable ousting, it would either be Frank or his planned opponent Cain. And the popular fellow former champ from Mexico just lost to Junior so he’s not likely to be brought back in so quickly.
Give the shot to Fabricio Werdum – He’s coming off a win over Roy Nelson in a Fight of the Night effort at UFC 143 and hasn’t lost to anyone not named Alistair Overeem (now a perceived juicer) since 2008, when he coincidentally lost to none other than…. Junior dos Santos. With all this happening, is it about time he get his rematch? If nothing else, the storylines would be there this one – especially considering how overpowered he was in his last loss to a possible cheater.
Bring Josh Barnett over from Strikeforce – Granted, this would be a reach given that “The Babyfaced Assassin” still has unfinished business with Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce HWT Grand Prix, not to mention the UFC may have to convince the Showtime brass to let him go but desperate times call for desperate measures. Has he “played nice” enough for Dana to consider this?
Make the improbable call to Russia for Emelianenko Fedor – A few days ago, Dana White was quoted as saying that he wasn’t considering bringing the former #1 fighter in the world to the UFC. “Not even a little bit,” he said. Does Alistair’s failed test change that? Certainly Fedor doesn’t have the name value he once did after losing to Hendo, Pezao, and Werdum but he does have 2 wins in a row and a name that would get people talking. Might this be the right move to make?
Last but not least….
Call Dan Henderson – Yes, we know, we know… this is nearly insane. But hey, Hendo did say he wanted his next fight to be for a title and he’s never been shy about fighting up and down weight classes in the past. Heck he did beat Fedor at heavyweight (weighing in at a whoping 207 lbs.) and subsequently beat Maurício Shogun Rua after that in 2011’s Fight of the Year. With 4 straight wins under his belt, should the UFC let him step in if he’s willing? Crazier things have happened.
All in all, this story is insane. Overeem’s positive test harbors on the point of unbelievable. But be that as it may, the pertinent thing is to focus on the issue at hand.
What’s next.
What do you think? Chime in with your opinions and let us know what the UFC should do to fix UFC 146 if the NSAC indeed rules Overeem ineligible.