UPDATE: Get the results for Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin.With UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar still indefinitely on the shelf, the organization is moving swiftly to create an interim championship.
And fresh off his spectacular win at UFC 107, Frank Mir is being tabbed to face No. 1 contender Shane Carwin to fill the interim title matchup, FanHouse has learned.
The bout, which has not been officially signed but has been verbally agreed to by at least one side, will be featured as the co-main event at UFC 111 on March 27, 2010 in Newark, N.J.
[Update: On Wednesday morning, FanHouse was informed that both parties have now verbally agreed to the matchup.]
Mir (13-4), a former UFC champion and one-time interim titleholder, last Saturday dominated Cheick Kongo, needing just 72 seconds to win by technical submission. Coming on the heels of Mir's UFC 100 loss to Lesnar in July, the impressive performance served to reignite interest in the rubber match of a potential Mir-Lesnar trilogy. Now, it appears that could be a possibility.
Standing in his way is Carwin, who has yet to taste defeat in his pro career, racking up 11 wins. Remarkably, all of his victories have come via first-round stoppage. The 34-year-old former collegiate football and wrestling star vaulted to the No. 1 contendership in March with a knockout over Gabriel Gonzaga.Carwin had been scheduled to face Lesnar at UFC 106, and then UFC 108 before the current champ was forced to withdraw with a serious intestinal disorder. He also had been offered a fight with Cain Velasquez, an opportunity he turned down because of the event's proximity to his pregnant wife's due date.
Over the weekend at UFC 107, organization president Dana White told reporters that Lesnar's health would be re-evaluated in about 45 days, and that a decision on an interim belt might not be made until then, but now it appears that the company will try to capitalize on Mir's sudden momentum while allowing Carwin the opportunity to get back into the cage for the first time in a full year. In recent days, both Carwin and Mir have voiced their approval of such a bout.
Upcoming matchups pitting Velasquez against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Junior Dos Santos against Gilbert Yvel will add further clarity to the once-muddled heavyweight picture.
As first reported by FanHouse in November and confirmed by the UFC last week, UFC 111 will be main evented by the welterweight championship fight between challenger Dan Hardy and division kingpin Georges St. Pierre.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
I don't think Mir is really looking forward to getting his ass kicked again by Brock anytime soon.
Mir was hesitant to fight shane and the others and said he wanted brock, because he knows those guys are tough and he might not win and get another shot at brock lesnar. i think this is the right thing to do to is to have an interim champion and who ever is the best out of shane, mir, dos santos, nog and shoot forgot other guys name will fight brock for the title, that is if brock is healthy. Mir is to cocky dont like his attitude but respect his fighting ability.
This is crazy why make a interim title? strip Brock of his and make him #1 contender and need to gain it back upon return.
I agree with you RBOYLE.
thats kinda how an interim title works...real champ isnt the "real" champ anymore, once real champ comes back he is kinda in the number one contender spot.
i respect frank mir's ability but i don't think that after one win, although a very commanding win, should be thrown back into title contention. that's the problem with the sport they need to give new people a shot at the title. i for one was looking forward to a carwin lesnar fight and i personally feel that shane carwin is handling the whole situation like a true champion would. frank mir on the other hand would insist that brock lesnar was afraid of him if he were the number one contender. and if all you need is one win to be thrown back into title contention then why isnt randy couture's name being mentioned.......he did beat brandon vera who holds a TKO victory over frank mir. not saying that frank mir's name should be completely dismissed but i think he should have to win more than one fight
Hope to see Brock back into the octagon soon, so he can kick Frank Mir's A** again. Kongo was no competition for Frank, Kongo sucked. Brock would have destroyed Kongo, just like he will Frank Mir.
Anybody would be scared to get back in the ring with Brock, after what he did to Frank in their last fight. He messed Frank up in their last fight.
I believe that the thought process in having an interim champion is similar to the idea of not loosing a starting position due to injury in football.
good point. really though its got dollar signs all over it. it doesn't really matter who's interim champ but to sell an interim title fight draws more attention than just mir vs shane. we know the winner gets brock either way.
BS, mir comes back with one impressive fight and he gets an interim shot while cain has multiple victories and is fighting noguiera, whens my man cain gonna get a shot for God's sake
i hate broc lesnar. i have never heard of a sore winner until this guy. how can people like him ? he is the worst sport i can think of. after that stunt after the mir fight 1n ufc 100 i will never root for him again. not to mention he is a freak. no skills just amazing power. he should hire kimbos pr team.
I like both fighters; however, I think Mir will outstrike Carwin and gain the victory. Carwin is a little too slow for Mir's improved standup game.
FRANK MIR DESERVES THE RIGHT TO BE THE CHAMP AGAIN...FRANK IS A CLASSY PERSON...UFC HASNT SEEN A BETTER CHAMP SINCE RANDY...
Frank Mir is a cocky wigger.
In the HW Division! How about Jr. Dos Santos vs. Cain; Mir vs. Caewin, winners fight for the belt? I think those are good matchups until Lesnar returns. Anybody want to rearrange my matchups?
i like that Ted, i think vesquez comes out on bottom, followed by carwin. dos santos/mir is a great match up. might give an edge to mir if he keeps his comitment. let you know on that.
i think frank mir is the only guy at heavyweight that can be an intram champ, no 1 else can touch him. once lessnar gets back itll all be irrelavent.
Don't forget Lesnars record during collage is 106 wins with only 4 losses.
He's not only powerful but is extremely athletic, just don' piss him off or he will go Mir on you. lol
This matchup was clearly made for a Brock/Mir rematch. Personally I like Carwin but he hasn't beaten any opponents of high caliber like Mir has, combined with the experience he has from fights lasting longer than one round.
Carwin hasn't been tested enough to deal with Mir's skills on the ground and his ever-improving boxing. I couldn't see the fight getting out of the 2nd round.