Frank Mir made it clear that he is set on breaking the 1-1 deadlock he has with UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar Friday during a Q and A session for fans after the WEC weigh-ins in San Antonio, Texas.
However, the former UFC heavyweight champion said he believed the pair wouldnâ??t be fighting for the belt should their third encounter happen in the near future. Mir told the crowd that he felt Shane Carwin would defeat Lesnar in their main event bout at UFC 106 on Nov. 21 in Las Vegas. Noting Carwinâ??s strength, Mir stated that he did not believe Lesnar would be able to bully Carwin the way he did to him at UFC 100 last July.
When asked if he had spoken with Lesnar since the bout and their post-fight altercation, Mir said he had not, but that he was still planning on it.
â??If I do what I have to do, I will get locked in the cage with him again and we will discuss it then,â?? said Mir, who is slated to face Cheick Kongo at UFC 107 on Dec. 12 in Memphis.
Mir declined to answer whether he was suffering from a knee injury during his loss to the brutish 2000 NCAA Div. I wrestling champion, which had postponed the bout by two-and-a-half months. He made it clear he was not going to walk down the same path he felt Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira took after losing to Mir.
Finally, Mir touched on his interest in fighting middleweight champion Anderson Silva, who reportedly named Mir his choice candidate at heavyweight last August. In an exclusive interview with Sherdog.com shortly after, Mir said heâ??d â??rip (Silvaâ??s) shoulder out of the socket.â??
â??I would be extremely interested in that fight,â?? said Mir Friday. â??I have learned that size helps people win fights. It would be a bad night for him if we end up grappling. He should keep doing a few exhibitions at light heavyweight and stay at middleweight.â??
A rubber match between them is just not that interesting. Not only for me, I’d wager to say, but for the majority of MMA fans. Or lucrative, from the UFC’s point of view.
Would he stand a chance? Absolutely, with the right tactic.
[quote]Schwarzfahrer wrote:
A rubber match between them is just not that interesting. Not only for me, I’d wager to say, but for the majority of MMA fans. Or lucrative, from the UFC’s point of view.
Would he stand a chance? Absolutely, with the right tactic.[/quote]
I’d actually really like to see this. I was so disappointed in his lack of execution in their second fight I’d like to see if he could set his ego aside and fight a smart, tactical fight like he did with Nog.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Schwarzfahrer wrote:
A rubber match between them is just not that interesting. Not only for me, I’d wager to say, but for the majority of MMA fans. Or lucrative, from the UFC’s point of view.
Would he stand a chance? Absolutely, with the right tactic.
I’d actually really like to see this. I was so disappointed in his lack of execution in their second fight I’d like to see if he could set his ego aside and fight a smart, tactical fight like he did with Nog.[/quote]
Mir definitely won the fight against Nog and deserves credit for doing so. But, it’s pretty clear from watching Nog’s fight with Randy, that the Nog that Mir fought was not the real Nog. I honestly think that a rematch between those two would be more interesting than a rubber match between Frank and Brock.
Brock absolutely destroyed Mir in the second fight, and would have won the first fight had it not been for that bullshit stand-up. Brock was also completely green in the submission department and didn’t see a very obviously set-up knee bar coming from a mile away. His loss was due to inexperience, not because Mir was the better fighter.
Now, with several more fights under his belt, Brock is not going to get caught sleeping. And he is just too big, strong, fast, conditioned and tough for Mir to handle. I say that Brock wins 90 (maybe more) out of 100 fights between the two.
I would be interested once he puts together a string of impressive wins. I don’t see him as deserving of a rematch considering how both bouts went.
Mir has shown he is more than capable of defeating Brock, even in the second fight. He needs to work on those technical flaws that broke him the second time, and beat a couple of respectable competitors. Kongo is a nice place to start.
He would have to make pretty serious improvements to stand more than a puncher’s chance. I think he is capable.
Strength - He certainly has the frame and training with Phillipi is a good start.
TD Defense - Bring in big explosive wrestlers. Folkstyle and Greco.
He does this and it should be a more competitive fight. I would put in against another strong wrestler to see how he does first.
If Lesnar successfully defends his title against Carwin, Carwin should be next up for Mir. As far as strength and wrestling, Carwin is a good interim step to Lesnar. If he gets taken down and GnP’d against Carwin, he won’t survive against Lesnar. Actually Velasquez may be a better choice. Not as big but quick and good TDs.
Which highlights the elephant in the room. Brock’s improving technical game.
I a year he went from two near submissions and a fight ending one, to completely stifling the same fighter’s ground game.
This Carwin match is another opportunity to see if he’s made progress in other departments. Imagine a Brock Lesnar with technically sound and offensive ground game. Imagine him passing guard, vying for the mount, attempting kimuras and armbars. Imagine what he’d fight like with decent striking.
That’s why I think Mir’s at a disadvantage here. He can progress, but Brock’s at that stage where’s he’s a sponge.
[quote]rundymc wrote:
Which highlights the elephant in the room. Brock’s improving technical game.
I a year he went from two near submissions and a fight ending one, to completely stifling the same fighter’s ground game.
This Carwin match is another opportunity to see if he’s made progress in other departments. Imagine a Brock Lesnar with technically sound and offensive ground game. Imagine him passing guard, vying for the mount, attempting kimuras and armbars. Imagine what he’d fight like with decent striking.
That’s why I think Mir’s at a disadvantage here. He can progress, but Brock’s at that stage where’s he’s a sponge.[/quote]
I think we see him submitting guys before too long. If he grabs a kimura, who is going to stop him from powering through it?
I don’t think Anderson Silva is the end-all be-all but I actually think Anderson would give Mir a run for his money, Mir’s stand up is nothing like Silva’s…Silva would try not to let that go to the ground.
I hope Carwin beats Brock. And I wouldn’t mind seeing Mir vs. Brock again…but i’d like it if they kept it standing…but for Brock I don’t think he’d want to do that.
Sento, Lesnar clearly dominated their second fight but I’ll maintain until the day I die that if Mir had just gone in and executed his gameplan he’d of won. As someone else mentioned bringing in big, explosive wrestlers would also be a way smarter move than training with Forest Griffin. I mean seriously, how did that make sense in his head? Anyway, I agree with everyone in Lesnar making big time improvements from fight to fight, and I see that continuing for awhile but at a less accelerated pace. And, with the improvements he’s made [and will continue to make] I just don’t see him ever having good stand-up, and if you get someone in there like Carwin who can stuff his takedown attempts [admittedley a huge “if”] and land clean, hard shots to his head Lesnar’s gonna have no clue what to do and get frustrated and lose. He’s already proven he’s a really sore loser, and if things aren’t going his way he loses his head. Talking shit and abondoning your game plan is probably not the best way to do that, so now someone’s gonna have to do it in the cage. A focused, serious Mir has the tools to do just that. A Mir who goes in thinking he’s gonna get another easy sub is a Mir who gets bombed on for a round and a half.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Sento, Lesnar clearly dominated their second fight but I’ll maintain until the day I die that if Mir had just gone in and executed his gameplan he’d of won. As someone else mentioned bringing in big, explosive wrestlers would also be a way smarter move than training with Forest Griffin. I mean seriously, how did that make sense in his head? Anyway, I agree with everyone in Lesnar making big time improvements from fight to fight, and I see that continuing for awhile but at a less accelerated pace. And, with the improvements he’s made [and will continue to make] I just don’t see him ever having good stand-up, and if you get someone in there like Carwin who can stuff his takedown attempts [admittedley a huge “if”] and land clean, hard shots to his head Lesnar’s gonna have no clue what to do and get frustrated and lose. He’s already proven he’s a really sore loser, and if things aren’t going his way he loses his head. Talking shit and abondoning your game plan is probably not the best way to do that, so now someone’s gonna have to do it in the cage. A focused, serious Mir has the tools to do just that. A Mir who goes in thinking he’s gonna get another easy sub is a Mir who gets bombed on for a round and a half.[/quote]
What “gameplan” is Mir going to use against Brock? Stay away and pray to land a lucky punch? Mir is not going to take Brock down, he isn’t going to outstrike him, and I’ll say this: Mir isn’t going to Sub Brock.
[quote]Valor wrote:
WhiteFlash wrote:
Sento, Lesnar clearly dominated their second fight but I’ll maintain until the day I die that if Mir had just gone in and executed his gameplan he’d of won. As someone else mentioned bringing in big, explosive wrestlers would also be a way smarter move than training with Forest Griffin. I mean seriously, how did that make sense in his head? Anyway, I agree with everyone in Lesnar making big time improvements from fight to fight, and I see that continuing for awhile but at a less accelerated pace. And, with the improvements he’s made [and will continue to make] I just don’t see him ever having good stand-up, and if you get someone in there like Carwin who can stuff his takedown attempts [admittedley a huge “if”] and land clean, hard shots to his head Lesnar’s gonna have no clue what to do and get frustrated and lose. He’s already proven he’s a really sore loser, and if things aren’t going his way he loses his head. Talking shit and abondoning your game plan is probably not the best way to do that, so now someone’s gonna have to do it in the cage. A focused, serious Mir has the tools to do just that. A Mir who goes in thinking he’s gonna get another easy sub is a Mir who gets bombed on for a round and a half.
What “gameplan” is Mir going to use against Brock? Stay away and pray to land a lucky punch? Mir is not going to take Brock down, he isn’t going to outstrike him, and I’ll say this: Mir isn’t going to Sub Brock.[/quote]
How do you figure he’s not gonnna outstrike him? Seriously? The dude put Nog on his ass and Nog is lightyears ahead of Lesnar standing. If Mir had done basiclly what he did against Nog and frustrated Lesnar he could’ve set himself up for the sub, and sunk it. You’ve been suckin’ down a lil’ too much of the Brocker-aid.
Why not? Without the Brock-scrotum-clad eyeglasses you’d realize that anyone can be softened up for a submission.
Outstriking Brock is very much possible, it borders on complete ignorance to think the huge guy is already some sort of striking master.
[quote]dhickey wrote:
rundymc wrote:
Which highlights the elephant in the room. Brock’s improving technical game.
I a year he went from two near submissions and a fight ending one, to completely stifling the same fighter’s ground game.
This Carwin match is another opportunity to see if he’s made progress in other departments. Imagine a Brock Lesnar with technically sound and offensive ground game. Imagine him passing guard, vying for the mount, attempting kimuras and armbars. Imagine what he’d fight like with decent striking.
That’s why I think Mir’s at a disadvantage here. He can progress, but Brock’s at that stage where’s he’s a sponge.
I think we see him submitting guys before too long. If he grabs a kimura, who is going to stop him from powering through it? [/quote]
That reminds me of Mark Kerr bursting into an amazing kimura in his ADCC match against Josh Barnett. Josh was clearly the more ‘technical’ submission fighter, but Kerr was a bull and a great wrestler, he pretty much ragdolled him, pinned him and even managed to finish him with seconds to go. He then won the ADCC if I’m not mistaken. (I wasn’t following MMA back then but do love watching tape)
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Valor wrote:
WhiteFlash wrote:
Sento, Lesnar clearly dominated their second fight but I’ll maintain until the day I die that if Mir had just gone in and executed his gameplan he’d of won. As someone else mentioned bringing in big, explosive wrestlers would also be a way smarter move than training with Forest Griffin. I mean seriously, how did that make sense in his head? Anyway, I agree with everyone in Lesnar making big time improvements from fight to fight, and I see that continuing for awhile but at a less accelerated pace. And, with the improvements he’s made [and will continue to make] I just don’t see him ever having good stand-up, and if you get someone in there like Carwin who can stuff his takedown attempts [admittedley a huge “if”] and land clean, hard shots to his head Lesnar’s gonna have no clue what to do and get frustrated and lose. He’s already proven he’s a really sore loser, and if things aren’t going his way he loses his head. Talking shit and abondoning your game plan is probably not the best way to do that, so now someone’s gonna have to do it in the cage. A focused, serious Mir has the tools to do just that. A Mir who goes in thinking he’s gonna get another easy sub is a Mir who gets bombed on for a round and a half.
What “gameplan” is Mir going to use against Brock? Stay away and pray to land a lucky punch? Mir is not going to take Brock down, he isn’t going to outstrike him, and I’ll say this: Mir isn’t going to Sub Brock.
How do you figure he’s not gonnna outstrike him? Seriously? The dude put Nog on his ass and Nog is lightyears ahead of Lesnar standing. If Mir had done basiclly what he did against Nog and frustrated Lesnar he could’ve set himself up for the sub, and sunk it. You’ve been suckin’ down a lil’ too much of the Brocker-aid.[/quote]
I don’t deny that Mir was the better striker when they met the second time. Whether that’ll be the case if they meet again who knows, Brock is still just a baby to MMA and potentially has the ability to improve at everything (save maybe wrestling) at a faster rate than Mir. So, whether that strategy would work in the future I’m not so sure of.
The problem though is that Brock can take him down at will. So, no matter how much Frank might want to make it a striking match, he hasn’t got the skills to actually make Brock fight his fight. His only hope is that Brock is stupid enough to want to fight Frank’s fight.
That’s why I say that Brock beats Frank the vast, vast majority of times they fight.
Mir will be the better striker everytime. While Lesnar can obviously improve his stand up, he just doesn’t seem to flow when he throws a punch. He just doesn’t have “it”. He’s stiff, choppy and pushes his punch. Lesnar can obviously take Mir [and everyone else thus far] down at will, but people seem to forget or disregard that the few times Lesnar has been tagged in the face it’s completely thrown him off his game, and he still hasn’t been tagged flush in the nose/mouth/eye/etc.
Right before Mir threw that absurd jumping knee he landed a few glancing blows and Lesnar lost where he was. Same thing with Couture. He’s not making opponents change their strategies or anything, they’re just tossin’ a few at him and stopping. Maybe they’re just “testing the waters” and not risking getting taken down? Either way, as soon as we see Lesnar take a serious shot [or shots] and still fight his fight I’m not jumping on his bandwagon as most seem to do.
[quote]drewh wrote:
If it ever happens it’ll be interesting to see if Mir’s work with Mark Philippi pays off. If you go to his site his combat workouts are insane volume.[/quote]