The UFC 146 Main event hangs in the balance tonight as contender Alistair Overeem failed a ramdom drug test after a pre-fight press conference, Tuesday.

Overeem was schedualed to fight UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos at UFC 146 in May, this now seems unlikely. The test was conducted after a press conference on Tuesday, MMAJUNKIE.COM  reports that Overeem had failed because his T/E ratio was 10 to 1 whereas the acceptable level is only 6 to 1. Overeem has the oppertunity to appeal the decision and submit another sample to be tested.

This is not the first time Overeem has been involved in a scandal of this nature, indeed he missed a pre-fight drugs test for his last fight against former Champion Brock Lesnar. Stating that  he had returned to Holland to care for his mother who was experience Ill health. On these grounds the Navada State Athletic Commison granted Overeem only a conditional licence to fight Lesnar.   The condition being that the fighter would submit  for a drugs test when arriving back on US soil.

Critically, all other fighters tested on that day passed, including Frank Mir, Roy Nelson, Junior Dos Santos and Antonio Silva. Overeem will have to apply for a new license soon, the conditional licence expired on New Year’s Eve. It is difficult to see the Navada State Athletic Commission granting a license after this; if they do Overeem will have to have the excuse of a life time.  MMA has been blighted with continuous drug related incidents in recent months and this will be a further stumbling block for #1 contender

Overeem was the former DREAM, K1 and Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, the only person in history to hold all 3 titles at the same time. It is Impossible to gage how this will damage his career, because it all depends on his reasoning. One thing is for sure it is less than desirable for the UFC.

UFC 146 is a Heavyweight exclusive card, so they are not sort of replacements for Overeem (which they will have to do, time is running out)  Frank Mir who has been on a unstoppable run beating Cro Cop, Nelson and Nogueira, another option is Antonio Silva who reached the semi final of the Strikeforce Grand Prix. An outsider to be the replacement is Roy Nelson although on somewhat of a rough patch recently his fights are always close and the UFC are guaranteed a brawl.  It would be fantastic to see the veteran Mark Hunt given the title shot, going 3-1 in the UFC Hunt is a fan favourite and it would be a great fight.

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