UFC 111: Frank Mir Versus Shane Carwin For Interim UFC Title Reported
By: Fighters.com Staff Posted On: December 16, 2009 at 12:36pm
Fighters.com’s third-ranked heavyweight Frank Mir (13-4) and sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0) could match-up for an interim UFC title at UFC 111 in Newark March 27, according to an MMA Junkie report.
Second-ranked UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1) is recovering from surgery to repair a perforated intestine, rendering him unable to defend his belt from Carwin, a fight the UFC has rescheduled three times.
If the report is true, the UFC has cancelled the Lesnar-Carwin matchup and replaced it with an interim title fight.
Mir is no stranger to an interim UFC title. After TKOing fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) at UFC 92 in Las Vegas last December, Mir claimed an interim UFC title he subsequently lost when he was TKO’d by Lesnar at UFC 100 seven months later. However, Mir has gone public with his distaste for interim titles, calling on UFC President Dana White to strip Lesnar of his belt due to his inability to defend.
Apparently, that’s not in the cards.
Mir has also been vocal about making it a trilogy with Lesnar. The series stands at 1-1, with each fighter earning a stoppage over the other. In anticipation of a third fight versus Lesnar, Mir has put on up to 25 pounds of muscle to compete physically with the big guy.
He’ll need it to compete with Carwin, whom Mir has called a better version of Lesnar. Carwin knocked out former UFC title challenger “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (10-4) last March in Columbus at UFC 96.
Mir is coming off a first-round stoppage of perennially overrated Cheick Kongo (14-6-1) at UFC 107 in Memphis last weekend.
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Comments
Ok,.. if Cheick Kongo was overhyped,.. then why the hell is Mir getting a shot at interim? Where did Valasquez and Nogueira go? I think, which, would also benefit the UFC and Brock Lesnar, so they can hype this up as long as possible, and allow Lesnar to get back in the game, I think they should have the four man “tournament” of Nogueira Valasquez, Carwin Mir, then those two winners go for a meaningful interim championship to put some pressure on the UFC heavyweight division, and solve the UFC heavyweight rankings debate once and for all.
In all fairness Shane already had a title shot lined up and it was taken away due to Brock’s illness. In my opinion any interim title fight should involve him.
Many ask what Frank Mir has done to deserve a title shot and I will tell you, he has sold himself. He has packed on weight to better contend with the size of Lesnar and his knock down of Kongo was impressive considering he was supposed to be at a disadvantage there.
Carwin will show everyone that Frank Mir is a joke….He is all mouth…Cheick Kongo is run of the mill already coming off a loss and now Frank Mir is a contender PLEASE!
Frank Mir is slow and weak for his size…Carwin will expose all of this and end Mir’s little fantasy….KO in the first round by Carwin guaranteed!