UFC Given Permission To Promote Alistair Overeem

The UFC has yet to officially announced Alistair Overeem's 2013 return, but they are free to do so by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Overeem is set to appear before the commission late in December or early in January and seek his fight license after having it suspended earlier this year.

Once he does, the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and No. 1 contender in the UFC is set to face Antonio Silva at UFC 156: Aldo Vs. Edgar in early February. UFC president Dana White confirmed during a post-press conference media scrum that they were given permission to begin promoting Overeem.

"We asked the commission: can we start setting up a fight for him, but he's still got to go before the commission (in January)," White said. "I think Alistair has been doing the right thing as far as the commission is concerned. It's looking positive and optimistic because he's been doing what he's supposed to do."

With a win over Silva, Overeem would likely position himself for a championship match against the winner of Junior dos Santos-Cain Velasquez.

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