Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem was supposed to face Junior dos Santos earlier this year for the UFC title, but he was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission prior to the fight for elevated levels of testosterone.
He can not come off suspension until the end of the year and will return to the UFC in 2013.
Upon his return to the UFC, he will immediately get a title shot according to UFC President Dana White.
During his post fight scrum, White announced that the plan was for Overeem to face the winner of Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez in the early part of 2013.
Since being suspended, Overeem has said that Dos Santos is afraid to face him because he knows he can not defeat him.
“It’s very simple,” Overeem said. “I think he is afraid of me. He is afraid to fight me. I think he was happy the last fight on My 26th did not happen.”
Dos Santos has called Overeem a punk in the past and has told White that he wants to knock him out.
“I have nothing but respect for Cain Velasquez,” Dos Santos told White. “I like him as a person and a fighter. I think deserves this shot at the title, but I do not want to fight him, which is not what he said a month ago. Alistair Overeem is a punk, he has a big mouth, he has been saying a lot of bad things about me and I want to knock him out.”
Dos Santos is scheduled to defend his title against Velasquez at UFC 155 on December 29th in Las Vegas and White said they are looking to have Overeem get the winner in March or April of next year.