(‘Thanks for the workout, chummmmmmmp.’ Photo courtesy of Fight Magazine.)

Because the MMA gods would never be content to allow the UFC’s heavyweight division be both intriguing and problem-free, Brock Lesnar’s illness just happens to have coincided with a number of potential challengers rising up all at once. You’ve got Shane Carwin, who was originally slated for the next shot at Lesnar. You’ve got Cain Velasquez, who’s been running through everyone the UFC puts in front of him. And after UFC 107 on Saturday night you’ve got Frank Mir, who would like to smugly point out that he almost knocked out and then submitted a guy who Velasquez couldn’t finish. You know, just saying.

With Lesnar’s future still uncertain, what will become of these three able heavyweight contenders? If you ask Carwin, he’ll tell you that he wouldn’t mind fighting Mir while all this other stuff gets sorted out:

A win like Frank had last night surely propels him to share the top of the division with Nog, Cain and myself. If beating Kongo was enough to propel Cain to number two contender status, destroying Kongo might edge Cain out. What is more compelling is that Mir made it our of that fight injury free so not only is he at the top of the division he is likely ready to fight sooner then later.

The main question I am getting is would I fight Frank? The answer is easy YES. I am not a fighter who decides who he fights, I fight who I am told to fight. I like it that way, I am not trying to build a legacy I am trying to fight the best fighters in the World and determine where I fit in. Mir is a Multiple time Champion, who has been counted out more then Mike Tyson to only find himself right back at the top. He is a LEGEND of the sport and I would be honored to fight him.

Whoa there, Hulk Hands. No one, but no one, has been counted out more times than Mike Tyson. And if you’re trying to make a point about someone who seems finished but then makes a miraculous comeback, “Iron” Mike might not be the best comparison. His life sort of went to shit a while ago, and has more or less stayed there.

All that aside, we see your point. Lesnar looks like he’s going to be out a little while, and a guy could do a whole lot worse than, say, an interim heavyweight title fight against a resurgent Mir.

But if Lesnar isn’t going to be on the couch watching “Hogan’s Heroes” reruns and recuperating from major surgery for the next year or so, don’t expect it to happen. Unless Lesnar’s going to be out for a long time, the UFC probably won’t want to waste a possible future challenger with what would essentially be a glorified number one contender match.