Alistair Overeem Likely To Face Winner Of Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez Upon Return

The Ultimate Fighting Championship's heavyweight title picture appears to be mapped out for the beginning of 2013 if all goes as planned.

Reigning champ Junior dos Santos is tentatively slated to defend his crown against the man he first dethroned — Cain Velasquez — at the promotion's year-end show (UFC 155) this December. The winner of that fight will likely face contender Alistair Overeem in the spring of 2013, according to UFC President Dana White.

"Yeah, that's what we're thinking," White told MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani when asked about Overeem's return title shot. "We'll see how this thing plays out and what happens. Again, nothing is done, nothing is etched in stone, but that's what I would like to see happen."

Overeem is currently at the tail-end of a nine-month suspension after a pre-fight drug test last May showed elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone levels of 14:1 — over twice the allowed limit by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. While Overeem's fighter license was not suspended since he was applying for a license to fight dos Santos at May's UFC 146, the heavyweight standout was denied the ability to reapply for nine months. Overeem will be able to apply for a license to compete this December.