Alistair Overeem returning to Holland; no timetable set on Octagon return

If you were holding out hope that a Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem fight might happen this spring, get set for disappointment.

Overeem, the former Strikeforce and Dream heavyweight champion, will not be able to return from a reported rib injury on a timetable that would allow for a May bout against the former UFC heavyweight champion.

MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday's edition of UFC Tonight that the South Florida-based Overeem will return home to Holland soon to see a doctor and undergo rehab.

Overeem told Helwani that he felt the effects of his rib injury for four weeks before his UFC 169 fight against Frank Mir, which Overeem won on across-the-board, 30-27 scores.

UFC president Dana White had hoped to make dos Santos vs. Overeem in May, then went public when Overeem turned down the bout, saying Overeem "wants nothing to do with" dos Santos.

But Overeem has stuck to his guns, telling Helwani that at this stage of his career, he's not going to accept any fight unless he feels "at least 90 percent." He's set no timetable for his return.