Alistair Overeem was today approved for a fighter license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, giving the green light for his clash with Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva on February 2 at UFC 156.

During today’s NSAC hearing it emerged that Overeem, who was suspended until December 27 last year after being hit with a 9-month ban for a failed drug test, has provided seven clean samples to NSAC recently.

Two were taken by NSAC directly and a further five were provided of the fighter’s own volition. Overeem always denied cheating and blames a medication obtained from a disreputable Texan doctor for the failed test in March last year.

NSAC apparently finds this plausible, despite Overeem’s attempting to flee the building when the random March tests were sprung at the UFC 146 pre-event press conference. The body even asked him today if he could make any suggestions that NSAC might benefit from in light of his case.

“Today I went for my license. I'm very happy to inform you guys that I got licensed to fight Feb. 2 in the UFC against 'Bigfoot' Silva. For me, it's now back to work, back to entering the gym. I'm already basically in shape, so it's just a couple more weeks of grinding it, and then it's going to be showtime again,” Overeem told MMA Junkie after the hearing.

If he beats Silva he will go forward into a heavyweight title shot against the new champion Cain Velasquez, who took the belt back from Junior Dos Santos on December 29.