MMA heavyweight Alistair Overeem finds credibility shot with failed drugs test Several weeks ago, I talked at length with Overeem. He spoke deeply and articulately about his life's ambition. He had grown up in Hounslow, west London, and moved to Holland, where he became a combat fighter in his teenage years. As he unravelled his thoughts, he was believable, charismatic, a potential UFC mega-star. Public Relations experts had whispered to me that this could be the man to capture popular appeal for the heavyweight division. Yes, there is the argument that he does not have a Nevada licence, so he can contest his Dos Santos fight. But the excitement around Overeeem has escaped like hot air from a sinking balloon. Regardless of what happens from here, doubt will linger, people will point and whisper. Cleared or not, Overeem is not the force he was a week ago. The UFC, apparently, has not given up on Overeem. Last week, UFC officials filed a licence application on the heavyweight contender's behalf, the Nevada State Athletic Commission told MMAjunkie.com. Based in the world's fight Mecca of Las Vegas, the NSAC is often first with breaking news. According to it, Overeem has not contacted the commission since he failed the drug test for the pay-per-view event. Nor, indeed, has Overeem requested the test's "B" sample that supposedly has elevated levels of testosterone. The complication is that, because Overeem is not currently licensed by Nevada, he cannot face an immediate suspension. Yet the NSAC could simply deny him a licence indefinitely. There is no evidence to suggest that Overeem has cheated. Overeem had never tested positive for banned substances before this past week's result. Some believe the case is not over. Over the weekend, UFC president Dana White went from livid to sanguine, and has insisted that a co-main event fight between former champion Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez will go ahead. In other words, they are not being moved up to fight Dos Santos. My belief is that - in spite of the growing clamour to put Mark Hunt in front of Dos Santos - Mir will eventually get the call. Velasquez, meanwhile, has been strangely silent. So too has Overeem. Completely silent. He has yet to comment on his failed test. And that silence, right now, is deafening.