10 Struggling MMA Fighters That Will Bounce Back

It’s Official: Lesnar vs. Mir 2 @ UFC 98 on May 23rd


(Image courtesy of the UFC.)

From a new bulletin on UFC.com:

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Long considered the most prestigious title in mixed martial arts, the UFC Heavyweight Championship currently rests in the hands of two men – Champion Brock Lesnar and interim belt holder Frank Mir. On Saturday, May 23rd, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lesnar and Mir will meet to not only determine an Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, but to settle some very personal business they began in this same city over a year ago.
 
“Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir put on one of the most intense one round fights I’ve ever seen at UFC 81,” said UFC President Dana White, referring to Mir’s submission victory over Lesnar in February of 2008. “But when it was over, both guys saw things very differently. Lesnar blamed his loss on inexperience and being too aggressive, while Mir saw his win as a triumph of his technique, something he says will happen every time they fight. On May 23rd, each fighter has his chance to prove his point, and while a lot has happened for these two since that first fight, I know the rematch is going to be just as intense as the first one, especially considering that the winner walks away as the UFC Heavyweight Champion.”

This matchup has always been interesting because the position where Lesnar is the strongest (slugging from the top) alligns with the position where Mir is the strongest (subbing from the bottom). So it’ll be interesting to see if Brock opts for the same strategy this time around — taking Mir to the mat right away and trying to overwhelm him with ground-and-pound. As he learned at UFC 81, that’s a good way to get caught in a freak kneebar.  Could we be seeing an epic standup war in the rematch?


Tickets for UFC 98 go on sale March 5th for UFC Fight Club members, March 6th in a newsletter presale (password: grudge), and the remaining scraps will be released to commoners on March 7th. Though no other bouts are currently featured on UFC 98′s fight card page, a full lineup’s worth of matchups have been rumored or confirmed through other sources:

Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra
Sean Sherk vs. Frankie Edgar
Josh Koscheck vs. Chris Wilson
James Irvin vs. Drew McFedries
Houston Alexander vs. Andre Gusmao
Phillipe Nover vs. Kyle Bradley
Dave Kaplan vs. George Roop
Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Brandon Wolff
Tim Hague vs. Patrick Barry

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Anonymous- March 5, 2009 at 4:52 pm
The only reason fedor didn't finish him is because nog was in his prime. If he didnt just stand there with his hands down it would have been a different fight with Mir. We've only seen Mir's Offense. now lets see his defense against the guy taht almost beat him is first day in the sport.
Rory1313- March 4, 2009 at 1:53 am
@mayhem420 - Yes. Yes I do. But not the Fedor part... Have you heard his recent interviews? His televised appearances and statements made on MMA coverage are just silly. The man has no character, he's bloody boring and as thick as a camels cock. I judge fighters on their personas also, it makes the fight more exciting if you love or hate a fighter for who they are. He's just not got the X factor!
MMA Wannabe- March 3, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Dunno how to pick this one. If Mir's standup performance against Nog wasn't just Nog being sick, then Mir wins. Otherwise, Brock's steady improvement should get the W.

The best prediction I can make is that, it'll be a good one...
eliyoungfan- March 3, 2009 at 6:27 pm
murrrrrrrrr
Douchey McDoucherton- March 3, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I saw a re-enactment of this fight at the bar War Machine was working, I believe it was promoted as Cock Chestner vs Frankly Queer. Bruce Fluffer was the announcer.
Jubbie- March 3, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I actually want to see the YoshiYoshi fight. He was doing great(in previous matches) until he almost died against Kosh.
Dr.- March 3, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Fighting a guy with a staph infection and half a tank will make anyone's striking look phenomenal. Granted, Big Nog is less known for his stand-up than ground game. Mir did win but Nog wasn't the guy Fedor fought back in Pride. Things have taken their toll.

As much as I don't like Lesnar, I know he's been working his fucking ass off to be ready for Mir. Saying that a great athlete with exceptional natural ability and work ethic hasn't been working to improve his game is laughable. I don't think Lesnar will let Mir beat him twice. The fire of competition will push him because of that 'L' to Mir.
Darwin- March 3, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Pulling for Mir here




let's see somebody actually RNC this giant.
renommafan- March 3, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Mir via freak knee bar only after lesnar barley misses mirs head and gets his ham hock (hand) stuck from punching it clean through the mat. They end up calling the move the bugs bun-knee.
Death- March 3, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Lesnar by Motocycle Accident - KO Round 1
Frank Mur- March 3, 2009 at 11:36 am
Lesnar wins via gnp, 1st round. He's gonna box Mur's urs in.
give it up- March 3, 2009 at 11:09 am
WOW, how things have changed. not one (very) negative thing about brock, is he earning respect. did we just watch all the people who hated him slowly turn into slight fans or having some what of a respect for him.

before i wanted brock to win so all of you(not all, but a lot) would shut the fuck up with your high and mighty mma bullshit "he cant be in our sport". but now that most of you are actually giving him the benefit of saying he could and very well might win, just makes things a lot less interesting. not really sure who i want to win now, but it will be a good fight.

actually, mir is a douche bag and i hope he gets pummeled.
Aenarion- March 3, 2009 at 10:11 am
I'm actually excited to see 9/10 of those fights. That's a great fucking card.
Fedor a million ankles- March 3, 2009 at 9:31 am
I just had a flash premonition that this fight will be the undisputed greatest MMA fight of all time. Nothing to back that up besides the visions in my head.

I love acid.

Your Fucking Father- March 3, 2009 at 9:21 am
Goog for the motherfucking win. That is exactly how I see this fight going as well. Mir just does not have the power that Lesnar has, say what you want about fighting on the ground but everyone on here who really trains knows that if a guy as big as Lesnar catches you with a solid shot to the jaw you are going out or at least down very roughly. And we all saw how Mir's chin is when he fought a guy who should be fighting at Light Heavy and got his ass knocked out. Chin has nothing to do with being in shape, and lastly I heard Big Nog had a staph infection or some shit like that for his fight with Mir.
gesus- March 3, 2009 at 9:17 am
@ Sodak:

Yay for waiting being on comedy central the other night!
Gleb Jolie- March 3, 2009 at 9:17 am
Every giant has his Achilles' heel. Lesnar's is his extremely sensitive poop chute.
Mir, it's up to you to exploit it somehow. Mir by colon choke in the 2nd.
gesus- March 3, 2009 at 9:15 am
is it me or in this pic does it look like lesnar's penis tat actually look like its ejaculating?

ANYWAYS
i think mir has multiple advantages over lesnar..
mir's striking looks amazing at this point, so i'm sure he can stand against lesnar and his boulder fists
and
mir's ground game is pretty sick (not to mention that's what got him to beat brock in the first place).
just gotta hope frank doesn't end up getting squashed by lesnar then GnP'd to death.
Sodak- March 3, 2009 at 9:14 am
haha being the heavyweight champion of the UFC is like being the smartest kid with down syndrome
KG- March 3, 2009 at 9:03 am
Mir by submission, again. It will be by Penis Tattoo-plata. He will litterally submit the ink under the epidermal layer of Brocks chest and force the tap.
Snake Plissken- March 3, 2009 at 8:12 am
Mir is not going to get Lesnar in another leg/ankle lock. Lesnar isn't that stupid. How in the world would you ever get a kimura on Lesnar, he is too good of a wrestler for that. You aren't going to armbar that freak of nature either. Guillotine, please.....rear naked choke, Lesnar has no neck.Triangle from the bottom, I predict a knockout of Mir by extreme powerbomb if he tries it.What the hell does that leave, standup?That looks like a no go givin how fast and powerful Lesnars shoots are.Not only that but he was scary fast with his hands, people lost sight of that given Herrings flipping clear over. Watch that match again, and watch how fast the puch that clipped Randy came. No giant swede should have that fast of hands. I think that low outside leg kicks are the answer to Lesnar, with that wrestlers stance it is his only weakness. BUT, you better keep your effin hands up and watch for that overhand right. I predict Lesnar by knees to the body and hammer fists to the head, round one.
schnetzler- March 3, 2009 at 8:00 am
anyone else excited for Yoshida vs Wolff? who doesn't want to see 2 guys who suffered vicious beatings in their last outing go at each other to save their jobs....no takers?...yeah didn't think so...
Joe Duarte- March 3, 2009 at 7:58 am
I'm fighting on the card boys!
Anonymous- March 3, 2009 at 7:44 am
I just want to know if Lesner has learned how to pronounce Frank's name, or are we going to have to listen to him hype his fight against some guy named 'Mur' like the first time they fought.
Jim Rauce- March 3, 2009 at 7:39 am
Here's how it's gonna go down folks:
Round 1:
Lesnar comes racing out of corner with a flying knee, Mir dodges it and crotch-chops him. The crowd is going crazy. Lesnar smiles as he flips Mir off. They start sizing each other out. After a couple of minutes of striking, Mir puts his right hand up, daring Lesnar to challenge him in a game of mercy. They connect hands, Lesnar gets the better of him as Mir is on his knees. The bell ends the round. Lesnar wins the round.
Round 2:
Mir races out and spears Lesnar for a takedown. The crowd is going nuts. Mir is throwing some heavy bombs and hard knees to the body. Lesnar, picks Mir up and is setting up an F5. Mir gets out of it and lands on his feet, but is clotheslined by Lesnar. Lesnar picks up Mir's left leg and locks in a Figure-Four. Mir is tossing and turning, and manages to turn around, thus reversing the hold, and applying pressure to Lesnar's legs. Lesnar is trying to hold off as the crowd counts down the round, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Lesnar holds off. Mir wins the round.
Round 3: Both heavyweights come out looking exhausted. Mir has his hands on his knees. Lesnar is dripping sweat. Lesnar puts his hand out for Mir to shake. The crowd is screaming; advising Mir that it's a trick. Mir puts his hand out, when Lesnar reaches forward, Mir pulls his hand back and runs it through his hair. the crowd is going insane. Mir and Lesnar lock up, Mir lands some knees in the clinch. Lesnar is rocked. Mir smells blood and comes forward with a flying knee. Thanks to Fedor, Lesnar remembers that an overhand right can beat a flying knee any day, and clocks Mir. Mir is on the mat, trying to recover. Lesnar races in and lands in Mir's guard. Mir recovers and slaps on a triangle and secures an armbar. Just as Lesnar is about to muscle out of the hold, Steve Mazzagatti calls for the bell. This fight is over!!! The crowd looks almost as pissed off as Lesnar. Lesnar didn't tap. He walks to the fence of the cage, looks at a smirking Dana White, and spits on him.
Aftermath: Dana sends Brock packing. Brock retires from MMA. And UFC 98 goes down in history as the Las Vegas Screwjob.

Or...

Brock knocks Mir out in the first round.

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