Sorry, Alistair, but the word coming out of UFC 150 is that former Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez will get the next opportunity to contend for the belt.
UFC President Dana White told reporters at Saturday’s show in Denver, Colorado that Velasquez and Champion Junior dos Santos will square off on UFC’s annual year-end card, tentatively set for December 29, 2012.
After dismantling Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in his last outing, Velasquez seemingly solidified himself as the rightful challenger for Dos Santos’ belt. But following the recent UFC on FOX 4 show, White noted that JDS had expressed a preference for fighting Alistair Overeem and suggested that the leading mixed martial arts organization was legitimately considering that fight.
The problem, however, is that Overeem, sidelined after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, is unable to apply for a license until December 27 and could thus not be realistically promoted for a December 29 show. Overeem recently indicated he wanted to push for a premature hearing due to “good behavior,” but Nevada State Athletic Commission director Keith Kizer confirmed that such a hearing was not in the cards.
