Thread: UFC 81: Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir

In just three months, Brock Lesnar (1-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his UFC debut against the organization’s former heavyweight champion: Frank Mir (10-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC).

The UFC.com today announced the fight. MMAjunkie.com (UFC news, UFC rumors, UFC gossip, MMA news, UFC fighter interviews and event previews and recaps - MMAjunkie.com (formerly UFCjunkie.com)) has learned that the fight was first presented to Mir late last week and that he dropped off the bout agreement to Zuffa LLC’s Las Vegas offices this afternoon.

The fight is set for UFC 81, which takes place Feb. 2 (SuperBowl weekend) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The heavyweight bout will likely earn co-main-event status.

Lesnar, a former World Wrestling Entertainment performer who also had a short stint with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, was one of the sport’s top free agents after a 69-second submission victory over Min Soo Kim in a K-1 HERO’S Dynamite!! USA event this past June. The UFC officially announced that the 6-foot-3, 265-pounder had joined the organization last month during a UFC 77 pay-per-view broadcast.

Although stuck with the label of a “professional wrestler,” Lesnar own an impressive resume in “real” wresting. After posting a perfect 33-0 record during his senior year of high school in his native North Dakota, Lesnar went on to become a four-time All-American, a two-time Big Ten champion, and a 2000 NCAA national heavyweight wrestling champion with the University of Minnesota.

The 30-year-old will now face Mir, who won the UFC’s vacant heavyweight title in 2004. The legendary UFC fight was stopped in less than a minute when referee Herb Dean noticed that Mir had snapped opponent Tim Sylvia’s forearm while working an arm-bar submission.

Mir’s reign as champ would be short-lived, though.

Just three months after winning the title, Mir was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. The Las Vegas native flew approximately 25 yards from his bike, and bystanders initially thought he was dead. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors determined he had snapped his femur bone in two places and tore numerous tendons in and around his knee.

Mir didn’t fight for 16 months while he nursed his injuries, and the UFC stripped him of the title.

The 28-year-old’s return to the UFC thus far has been a mixed bag. His 2-2 record includes a lopsided first-round TKO loss to Brandon Vera, but back in August, Mir bounced back for a quick and impressive submission victory (via kimura) over Antoni Hardonk at UFC 74.

With a victory, he could find himself back in the UFC’s title picture.

UFC 81, after all, could be one of the most-viewed and best-promoted events in UFC history. UFC officials have already confirmed that the organization will pump additional dollars into specifically marketing Lesnar’s UFC debut — especially to professionally wrestling fans who no doubt will be interested in the performer’s octagon debut.

UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture, who suffered a broken arm in his UFC 74 victory over Gabriel Gonzaga, was expected to headline UFC 81. However, the UFC hall-of-famer resigned from the organization last month over what he perceived to be a lack of respect from UFC executives. Nonetheless, during a media conference call last week, UFC President Dana White said he plans to offer Couture a UFC 81 main-event fight with top contender Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

UFC news, UFC rumors, UFC gossip, MMA news, UFC fighter interviews and event previews and recaps - MMAjunkie.com (formerly UFCjunkie.com)

I really hope Mir takes this by submission.

I would have just added this to the other thread about his opponent, but I wanted to make sure that everybody saw it.

I'm dreading this. Guess I better get prepared for a lot of LnP....

Thanks for the news, CP.

Looks like they're gonna give Brock an opponent that doesn't mind being on his back, hence somebody thats going to take some ground and pound.

So long as Brock can defend submissions, Brock by TKO or decision.

I hope Mir takes it though.

To be honest I like this fight, Lesner is going to want to make himself look good, and if Mir comes in shape then it'll be a good fight, if he doesn't Lesner will GnP his eyebrows off

Where did you guys get the idea that Brock's GnP game is so good? It's a skill, you know. It's not just about being big, and being a good wrestler is only part of it. BJJ is all about neutralizing GnP, so someone who's really good at GnP knows how to contend with that. We'll see if Brock's GnP skills will trump Frank Mir's ground game.

I just hope Mir's in shape and makes this a fight. After everything Brock has said in the past few months about how he's already championship material and deserves to fight Randy Couture, this is make or break for both of them. It will be embarrassing for Mir to lose to a pro wrestler who's only had one prior MMA fight, and it'll be embarrassing for Brock to lose to a guy who's nowhere near the top of the HW rankings after all of his boasting.

I really do hope Mir comes in shape and messes up Brock's plans.

ive definately gotta take my boy frank for this fight he will come back in shape, and if he doesnt i will not pick him ever again

Mir by submission first round.

im excited to see the strength and explosiveness of lesnar but i think mir may catch him early in a sub

Wow, I'm suprised Dana didn't give him an instant vacant title shot unifying the WWE/UFC HW belts. Seriously, I see this being a Timmay vs. Mir replay with Brock tapping before his arm snaps.

Put Rampage up against Machida for that Main Event slot, and that UFC 81 is gonna be a pretty decent card.

I shall work some OT this holiday season to save for that should it materialize. I wanna be there for this one.