Overeem granted conditional licence

Alistair Overeem will be able to fight Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 141 later this month, provided he passes a couple of pre-fight drug tests.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission granted Overeem, who was the subject of rumours over the weekend that he may be unable to compete at the UFC’s year-end event, a conditional licence to appear at the show, which takes place Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.

The decision was made during the NSAC’s monthly meeting on Monday, according to MMAjunkie.com. Overeem, who is in his native Netherlands to be with his ailing mother, was given the requirement of passing one pre-fight drug screen in Europe within 72 hours as well as another once he arrives in the U.S. prior to his fight.

The 31-year-old Dutchman, considered one of the top heavyweights in the world, is set to make his Octagon debut against Lesnar, the former UFC champion who hasn’t fought since losing his belt to Cain Velasquez in October 2010. Lesnar was supposed to fight now-champion Junior Dos Santos in Vancouver in June before he was sidelined with a second case of diverticulitis.

Overeem, the former Strikeforce title-holder, is coming off a quarter-final win over Fabricio Wedurm in June in its heavyweight Grand Prix tournament. But he was released from his contract when he made himself unavailable for the date organizers wanted to set for the semi-finals.

An accomplished kickboxer, Overeem (35-11) was subsequently signed to the UFC with much fanfare. Unbeaten in his last 11 fights, he was recently named International Fighter of the Year at the 2011 World MMA Awards for the second straight time.

It was announced last month that the winner of the Overeem-Lesnar bout will get the next title shot against Dos Santos, who dethroned Velasquez at last month’s UFC on FOX debut show.

James Brydon is the editor and lead writer for sportsnet.ca's MMA section.