Alistair Overeem out of UFC 146 Main Event

The move was expected but the timing wasn’t. Last night UFC President Dana White dropped a twitter bombshell that the UFC 146 headliner Alistair Overeem has been replaced by Frank Mir, who will know face the UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos on May 26^th.

The move happens just four days before Alistair Overeem (36-11) is scheduled to stand in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission to explain his extremely high levels of testosterone in a pre-fight drug test, while attempting to actually get licensed to fight in Nevada. Even though Overeem’s camp has claimed to have a “good” reason for the elevated levels, the UFC has apparently decided to move on.

Frank Mir (16-5) was already on the UFC 146 card in the co-main event against former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (9-1). Mir is coming off a brutal submission victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and moves up a spot on the card for the chance at UFC gold once again.

The move leaves Velasquez currently without an opponent and the UFC has yet to address a new opponent. Since the NSAC revealed Overeem’s elevated testosterone levels there has been much speculation over Mir possibly stepping in to face JDS so Velasquez has been prepared for the news and is happy to fight anyone.

Where this leave Alistair Overeem will likely hinge on what happens on Tuesday when he goes before the NSAC. Whatever happens though, he won’t be fighting Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146.

UFC 146 takes place on May 26^th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tags: Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir, junior Dos Santos, MMA, News, Testosterone, UFC, UFC 146, UFC News

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