Morning Report: Frank Mir wants to ‘welcome’ Brock Lesnar back to UFC, open to third bout with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir has unfinished business with Brock Lesnar.

The pair were pivotal to the sport’s boom period highlighted by UFC 100 in 2009. With Lesnar’s help, Mir believes he can recapture some of that momentum despite riding an 0-4 skid since 2012.

“I think that [Lesnar’s] come back would be good for MMA,” Mir told Combate (via Bloody Elbow). “He’s still popular, people know who he is and he brings attention. We are tied with one win each. I would enjoy a rubber match. I would like to welcome him back to the UFC.”

Prior to losing the unified heavyweight title to Lesnar at UFC 100, Mir caught the WWE star with a ‘Submission of the Year’ kneebar at UFC 81 in 2008. Claiming the award again three years later against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mir has said he wouldn’t be adverse to facing the PRIDE legend for a third time.

“Nogueira and I are very competitive but I have nothing against him outside the Octagon,” said Mir. “I like him as a person, so, sometimes, it’s hard [for] the fans to understand. However, when we face each other, I always want to win. People think that you always have to talk about your rival. It’s the case with Lesnar because I don’t like him as a person.”

Mir earned the interim title with a second-round TKO of Nogueira at UFC 92, but it was his submission over the Brazilian at UFC 140 that remains a lasting image with fans. Even years later, Mir says it’s uncomfortable to watch film of himself forcing Nogueira to tap for the first time in his career.

“I started to pressure and he was very flexible. I started to look in the referee’s direction waiting for him to stop the fight, so I wouldn’t need to keep pressure. I don’t think that I was slow enough but his arm was strange. At the moment, I thought that I had dislocated his arm, not broken.

“When I arrived at my home, my wife’s friends had recorded the fight and we watched together. I stopped when Nogueira’s arm popped, I couldn’t watch. They asked me why and I answered, ‘I remember it differently. He was punching my face at that time. Watching it from my couch isn’t nice.'”

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UFC 178: Fight Motion.

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One half of Bellator’s 168-pound women’s catchweight fight tonight.

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Take 13 minutes to appreciate the life and times of Arianny Celeste. Probably NSFW.

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Long watches.

MMA Tete A Tete Chael vs Anderson on steroids, Rousey on pay, 80s punk rock

#FighterAndTheKid: Matt Mitrione

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TWEETS

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Whoops.

Hey @sqor Did you accounting department loose my address?

— chael sonnen (@sonnench) October 17, 2014

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A damn hero.

Wow just went through a crazy experience. I’ll tell yah when I get some time on my fb later. Life is nuts.

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 16, 2014

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Betrayal.

Nice 2 find out who truly are loyal.More motivation to destroy!The circle gets smaller. http://t.co/aeFP8qUJpW #Sad excuse that r called men

— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) October 16, 2014

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Welp.

Ah.. another fighter doing their best to avoid @Sara_McMann after committing

— Hector Castro (@HectorCastroESM) October 16, 2014

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Get well soon.

Surgery time but first let’s take a #selfie #knee #ill #be #back http://t.co/QoWTuNZz9G

Efrain Escudero (@effyescudero) October 16, 2014

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Positive.

@RianMac: @DustinPoirier Do you think McGregor got lucky or do you think the decision was a good call?” Good call.. no luck in there.

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 16, 2014

I wanna thank @ufc @danawhite @seanshelby for everything, I will be back in the ufc soon im still not done yet

Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) October 16, 2014

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Keep an eye out.

Been offered 6fighters, I picked the highest ranked guy, good tough fight which I’m looking forward to.

— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) October 16, 2014

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Coming soon.

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Scorpio King 4 coming soon check out the trailer. http://redcarpetcrash.com/scorpion-king-quest-power-trailer/ @realroyce @roynelsonufc

View on Instagram

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Oct. 16 2014)

Jared Cannonier vs. Shawn Jordan at UFC 182

Dan Miller vs. Daniel Sarafian at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway

Thiago Alves vs. Jordan Mein at UFC 183

Jake Collier vs. Vitor Miranda at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway

Clay Collard vs. Alex White at UFC 181

Andy Enz vs. Thiago Santos at UFC 183

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir has unfinished business with Brock Lesnar.

The pair were pivotal to the sport’s boom period highlighted by UFC 100 in 2009. With Lesnar’s help, Mir believes he can recapture some of that momentum despite riding an 0-4 skid since 2012.

“I think that [Lesnar’s] come back would be good for MMA,” Mir told Combate (via Bloody Elbow). “He’s still popular, people know who he is and he brings attention. We are tied with one win each. I would enjoy a rubber match. I would like to welcome him back to the UFC.”

Prior to losing the unified heavyweight title to Lesnar at UFC 100, Mir caught the WWE star with a ‘Submission of the Year’ kneebar at UFC 81 in 2008. Claiming the award again three years later against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mir has said he wouldn’t be adverse to facing the PRIDE legend for a third time.

“Nogueira and I are very competitive but I have nothing against him outside the Octagon,” said Mir. “I like him as a person, so, sometimes, it’s hard [for] the fans to understand. However, when we face each other, I always want to win. People think that you always have to talk about your rival. It’s the case with Lesnar because I don’t like him as a person.”

Mir earned the interim title with a second-round TKO of Nogueira at UFC 92, but it was his submission over the Brazilian at UFC 140 that remains a lasting image with fans. Even years later, Mir says it’s uncomfortable to watch film of himself forcing Nogueira to tap for the first time in his career.

“I started to pressure and he was very flexible. I started to look in the referee’s direction waiting for him to stop the fight, so I wouldn’t need to keep pressure. I don’t think that I was slow enough but his arm was strange. At the moment, I thought that I had dislocated his arm, not broken.

“When I arrived at my home, my wife’s friends had recorded the fight and we watched together. I stopped when Nogueira’s arm popped, I couldn’t watch. They asked me why and I answered, ‘I remember it differently. He was punching my face at that time. Watching it from my couch isn’t nice.'”

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

MMA Beat. The panel discusses Anderson Silva’s press conference, Chael Sonnen’s recent comments, the state of the bantamweight division, and more.

Suicide watch. According to a report, Jon Koppenhaver attempted to hang himself Tuesday in his Las Vegas jail cell.

‘You’re not dying today!’ UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman spent his Thursday rescuing his elderly neighbor after she fell through a glass table.

‘I didn’t do 20 percent of what I’m capable of.’ Eduardo Dantas says he deserves an instant rematch after dropping his Bellator bantamweight title to Joe Warren at Bellator 128.

‘An Old Testament list of plagues afflicting the best of the best.’ Breaking down just how much the injury bug has ravaged the UFC in 2014, division by division.

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

UFC 178: Fight Motion.

Star-divide

One half of Bellator’s 168-pound women’s catchweight fight tonight.

Star-divide

Luke Rockhold won’t be satisfied just to submit Michael Bisping.

Star-divide

UFC Full Blast: Phil Davis on Teixeira vs. TeHuna.

Star-divide

TTTHS.

Star-divide

Take 13 minutes to appreciate the life and times of Arianny Celeste. Probably NSFW.

Star-divide

Long watches.

MMA Tete A Tete Chael vs Anderson on steroids, Rousey on pay, 80s punk rock

#FighterAndTheKid: Matt Mitrione

Star-divide

TWEETS

Star-divide

Whoops.

Star-divide

A damn hero.

Star-divide

Betrayal.

Star-divide

Welp.

Star-divide

Get well soon.

Star-divide

Positive.

Star-divide

Keep an eye out.

Star-divide

Coming soon.

Loading

Scorpio King 4 coming soon check out the trailer. http://redcarpetcrash.com/scorpion-king-quest-power-trailer/ @realroyce @roynelsonufc

View on Instagram

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Oct. 16 2014)

Jared Cannonier vs. Shawn Jordan at UFC 182

Dan Miller vs. Daniel Sarafian at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway

Thiago Alves vs. Jordan Mein at UFC 183

Jake Collier vs. Vitor Miranda at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway

Clay Collard vs. Alex White at UFC 181

Andy Enz vs. Thiago Santos at UFC 183

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.