UFC 146: Has Alistair Overeem Permanently Destroyed His Legacy?

After learning that Alistair Overeem would be denied an application and be forced to serve a nine-month suspension, fans speculated how long the Dutchman would remain in the UFC.

However, he does not appear to be going anywhere momentarily, but that does not mean he is under the good graces of UFC President Dana White.

It's hard to believe that after failing his UFC 146 drug test that he would be welcomed with open arms from White or anyone else in UFC management.

As a result, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir will replace Overeem and challenge UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos.

Overeem's image will take some considerable damage, especially after earning a convincing victory over Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. The former Strikeforce heavyweight champion has always been credited for being one of the most physically imposing competitors since transitioning to the heavyweight division in 2007, but with his recent suspension it will be hard to market him as a credible contender to casual fans.

His reputation as a dominant heavyweight might still be intact, and perhaps with another possible victory he could re-enter himself into the title picture, but most fans are not naive and Overeem will likely have to continue to face criticism regarding his physical stature for the remainder of his career.

Even if Overeem should capture for the UFC heavyweight title, there are some fans who will always remain skeptical regarding his accolades.

The UFC had signed Overeem in hopes of attracting him to a mainstream audience in the United States, as he is more recognizable and popular in Europe, but their hopes of making him into a potential star have now faded.