Look For Frank Mir to Rule the Heavyweights

It’s the fight that was never meant to be – at least not yet. Junior Dos Santos was set to make his first title defence in the heavyweight division over Alistair Overeem in what was positioned to be a striking clinic. Unfortunately, Overeem was caught for having excessive PED levels in his system and banned from the fight. Despite this fight being set-up as a default, the mainstream appeal of this fight is far greater in my opinion than the original match-up.

Junior Dos Santos is without question the most clinical boxer in the heavyweight division, and potentially the UFC. His game plan is a simple one; he comes at you with you with everything he has, whether he’s controlling the centre of the ring or countering at you with vicious upper-cuts and straight jabs. What sets him apart from most is that he maintains a fair amount of control and never lets his emotions best him. Where he falls short is the ground game. While he trains with Minotauro, and many claim he has an outstanding BJJ element to his arsenal, it has yet to be proven (he is still only a brown belt).

Frank Mir has become one of the most well-rounded fighters in the division since his renaissance took place back in 2008 in his first fight with Brock Lesnar. The two-time heavyweight champ used to rely mainly on his jiu-jitsu game to stifle opponents, while striking was just a means to get fighters to the ground.  Rightfully so, by the way, because I need not remind you that Mir has left two opponents with compound fractures from his submissions. More recently, since his first fight with Minotauro, Mir has developed crisp boxing to match his ground game. While not as strong as his jiu-jitsu, he has KO’d/TKO’d the likes Mirko Cro Cop,  Chieck Kongo and Minotauro.

Both fighters have motivation for this fight. Mir wants to prove that he deserves that belt, and is history’s best in the heavyweight division. Dos Santos wants to avenge his trainer. My prediction for this fight goes to Mir. I think he has a better overall tool-kit with which to work. I think he will let Dos Santos dance around him on the feet and finish him off the ground. Mir recently submitted Minotauro, and if he could submit the man who trains Dos Santos with ease, I think he will have less difficulty with the champ. I know “MMA Math” is bogus, but in this case it just makes sense.

… and that is the last word.

7 Comments

1. 

   lolwhat

   May 13, 2012 at 11:18 am

   1) You think Mir fought Rashad?? lol When?
   2) Mir beat Kongo by submission, not TKO.
   3) Overeem did not have “excessive PED levels” lol, he had excessive testosterone – do you think there is an acceptable level of performance enhancing drugs?
   4) the idea that Mir is a bigger draw than Overeem in the wake of his recent boring fights (including v Cro Cop, arguably the worst main event in UFC PPV history) is absurd — fans don’t really like Mir, don’t forget that Dana wanted to make Mir v Brock III for Brock’s return fight, but the fans revolted and he had to switch it to JDS — fans don’t like Mir.
   5) Of course Mir can submit JDS on the ground. He could also submit Shane Carwin on the ground – it’s a matter of getting the fight there first. Look what happened in Carwin v Mir, now consider that JDS is faster, more agile, and a better boxer than Carwin, and reconsider you’re pick.

   Then again, maybe you saw something special in Mir that time you watched him fight Rashad Evans. lol

   Reply
   • 

     Ben

     May 13, 2012 at 4:10 pm

     A few points here,

     1) What are you talking about Rashad? Where did Mark mention Rashad.

     4) Fans don’t like Mir, or fans didn’t want to see Mir vs Lesnar for the 3rd time… your evidence here is weak.

     5) We won’t know until it happens now will we? If you’d like to write a rebuttal though about why Dos Santos will beat Mir, why not leave your real name or email address? If you can write an acceptable piece we might just look at publishing it.

     Reply
     • 

       Mike

       May 14, 2012 at 5:58 am

       Nicely said, Ben. Thanks for reading anyway, and yes, we can publish a well-crafted rebuttal.

       Reply
2. 

   caleb

   May 14, 2012 at 1:49 am

   I don’t see Mir wining at all. Jr just fought a better boxer and wrestler in Cain and won easily. Mir’s shot is definitely slower than Cain’s. Mir’s hands are both slow and telegraphed. He also has taken a lot of hits through out his career. We’ve scene him wobbled plenty of times. Jr should KO Mir out with ease.

   Reply
   • 

     caleb

     May 14, 2012 at 1:51 am

     HA! “KO Mir out” ?

     Reply
3. 

   Hoser33

   May 15, 2012 at 11:42 am

   Mir has a weak chin. Strikers have consistently KOed him early in fights. If Mir can get a takedown, he’s got a shot. But I don’t expect that to happen. Dos Santos has superior takedown defence and will pick Mir apart. JDS by KO in the 1st.

   Reply
4. 

   Jon

   May 16, 2012 at 12:22 am

   He edited it, the article did have rashad in it. The author must have taken it out. Probably an honest mistake anyways. Good read. I got Mir for this one.

   Reply