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Lesnar vs Mir III Rumored for FOX or UFC 140. Fight Breakdown and Predictions.

It is being reported by mixedmartialarts.com that Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir III will take place as the main event on the first ever fight card on FOX, which is also the same day as Pacquiao vs Marquez III. It is also stated that it could take place at …

How set in stone are these rumors? Honestly, there is no promise here on this fight, only speculation and rumors.MMAweekly.com posted Dana White‘s statement about Brock: “Brock’s gonna get back in the gym in September. Start training again, cause he hasn’t done anything since his surgery, training wise. Brock will probably be back the first of the year.”

By reading this, it appears to expect 2012, but he said probably, and that could mean many things. Hey, if it goes down there is nothing wrong with going ahead and making a few fight predictions.

When people instantly hear this fight, they automatically remember how Brock absolutely man-handled Frank in both of their fights essentially, but in the first as well all saw, Steve Mazzagatti made a huge error.

So, what is the reasoning for this fight to take place?

Well, Brock is coming off of a loss, and Mir is on a streak at the moment and has really bulked up in size. A fight now, would be a perfect close to an extremely hyped trilogy, and would also bring in major ratings.

Let’s face it, love him or hate him, Brock is the biggest draw in MMA. People want to see him fight. He isn’t the greatest in the world, but he has the name that people want to see. He never puts on boring fights as people would label them and he is a good heel for the sport. It has been a few years since Mir and Lesnar faced off.

Who has the advantage now, and who wins?

In the stand-up department, Brock has had all of the power in the first two fights, but back then Brock was much more of a risk-taker. Ever since he has become sick it is almost like he lost his killer instinct. Seriously, watch all of his fights before Carwin or Cain, and you will see the difference. Mir has very improved stand-up. Now that he is much stronger, he truly has a better chance of hanging with the bigger guys on the feet. Can he take a punch better than he once did? That is unknown, but there is a good chance though. At this moment in time, Mir is clearly the favored fighter in this area.

On the ground is where it is the puzzle. Brock has the wrestling, and smothered Mir with it in both fights, and if it wasn’t for the stand-up in their first bout, then odds are Brock would have won by TKO. Nowadays, wrestling overpowers BJJ, and it is hard to see a submission landed on the larger opponent, but that doesn’t mean that it cannot happen. Overall, on the ground Brock has to be favored, due to his smothering size, BUT that does not mean to count Frank Mir out in any way, shape or form.

In the cardio department, both men are in all truths pretty even, but from the past you have to give Brock the edge, but in a keep it real kind of moment, why would cardio be an issue? Someone is getting finished in this fight, there is virtually a very small chance this fight goes to decision, but hey it is MMA and anything can happen. So, to be fair, there is no advantage in the area of cardio.

Mental toughness is the fun part of this fight. Brock has taken back-to-back beat-downs, and has also fought for his life in the past few years. Mir, took a few beat-downs, but is back on track and working his way up and truly has tons of momentum on his side. Breaking it down, Mir may have a little fear when it comes to facing Brock. He has taken two beat-downs from the man in his career, and yes he won the first fight, but that still doesn’t change the fact that he was manhandled by Brock.

Brock, on the other hand, just wants to win. That could weigh in on his mind set. Yes he is focused on Mir but sometimes when you want something so bad, you set yourself up to fail. The mental aspect of this fight, is really fishy, and in all honesty is also virtually even. No one knows where Brock’s mind truly is after his surgery, or where Frank’s is knowing he would have to face a man that literally destroyed him.

Overall, Brock Lesnar would be the betting odds favorite, but in this case, it wouldn’t hurt to put money on Mir. Yes, Brock dominated the last fight, but with the layoff and his new approach to the way he fights mixed with Mir’s new-found confidence, Mir has a really good shot at winning this fight, and earning himself another title shot.

This fight could be a repeat type of fight, where you see Brock from start to finish destroy Mir. He could press him against the cage, land some solid shots, take him to the ground and pound away until the referee steps in.

In a realistic aspect now, the fight could and should go differently. Mir could possibly defend the take-downs of Brock now. On the feet, Mir has the clear advantage and as long as he can avoid the take-down or a thunderous shot from Brock’s fists, he has a good chance at victory. Mir could pick Brock apart, and somehow set up a submission, or Brock could come back with that hunger and really shake up the entire heavyweight division.

Many are quick to assume Brock would destroy Mir, but if there is ever a time to give Frank Mir a chance, now is the time.

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Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem Breakdown and Predictions, If the Fight Happens

The latest buzz in the MMA world is the possible match up between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar and current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem. If this bout goes down, it is expected for UFC 140 in December, and the event …

If this fight goes down, this would be an interesting fight for many reasons. Both men are hype trains, they are two of the scariest looking men in the division and both are good at putting on exciting fights.

So, the big question is, who has the advantages in each department?

In the stand up department, there is no doubt that Alistair Overeem has the clear advantage. Both are about equal when it comes to strength, but overall striking, it goes to Overeem. Overeem has always had a questionable chin, and Brock was TKO’d, but he has never been knocked out. Alistair has the advantage in the knees and kicks as well. Lesnar is still learning when it comes to proper striking, but when he lands a punch, there is a high chance that the opponent is going down. So, overall in the striking, Overeem takes this department.

On the ground is where this fight becomes interesting. In the take down department, it is all Lesnar. Overeem appears to have good take down defense, but there is one problem. Overeem has not once in his career faced a “true” wrestler. In his fight with Werdum, it was obvious that he was waiting on take downs, and well, that truly affected his striking. Lesnar literally bull rushes his opponents, and it is rare to not be taken down by Lesnar, but it isn’t impossible.

In the submission department, you have to give a small advantage to Overeem due to his Abu Dhabi experience. Lesnar is working hard on his submission wrestling, aka “Catch” wrestling. Overall, it is Lesnar’s world on the ground, but if Overeem has amazing take down defense, then it could be interesting.

Cardio will be the most important factor in this fight. Lesnar has always had great cardio due to his athletic past, and throughout the years, this department has been a huge question mark for Overeem. In past fights when Overeem has become tired, he tends to retreat, and that has led to his defeat. Lucky for him, his past 10 opponents have not been the greatest of talent, so he has made quick work of them.

Lesnar, on the other hand, has never had to worry with cardio issues, so this department he is favored in as well.

Mental aspect is where this fight gets interesting. Overeem’s heart has been questioned in the past, when he was facing top guys. It is unknown if he gets nervous or just psyched out before a huge fight, but when facing top 10 opponents, he has only posted a 3-8 record throughout his entire career.

In his past two fights, Lesnar’s heart has been questioned. It appears he is almost afraid to take a punch. It is quite odd, because when he first came into the UFC, he was steamrolling his opponents with ease, and when he returned, he was a changed man. So in this, these men are virtually even.

So, who takes this fight, and how?

Two possible outcomes for this fight.

Fight starts pretty fast with Lesnar going instantly for a take down, gets Overeem pressed against the cage, takes him down and pounds on him. Overeem would eventually tire out, and the fight would be stopped either end of the first or mid second round.

The second possibility would be Lesnar goes for a take down, does not land it and the men clinch. Overeem landing the better of the shots on the feet, landing his signature knees and making quick work of Lesnar and impressing the world.

Either way, if this fight happens, it appears that this would in fact be a title eliminator fight. There are tons of hype and question marks that have been around both men for the past few years. This fight would determine who is all hype and who is all substance.

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Ben Henderson Gunning Towards a Title Shot: 5 Fights That Could Be Next for Him

Ben Henderson has looked phenomenal in his two bouts in the UFC.At UFC 129, he faced Mark Bocek in his debut and while it appeared close at first, Henderson was clearly the more dominant fighter winning the decision and being setup against Jim Mil…

Ben Henderson has looked phenomenal in his two bouts in the UFC.

At UFC 129, he faced Mark Bocek in his debut and while it appeared close at first, Henderson was clearly the more dominant fighter winning the decision and being setup against Jim Miller, who was arguably next in line for a title shot with a win.

His fight with Miller was not only the biggest win of his career, but it was also his most impressive performance as well. He truly let everyone know at 155 pounds that he is the real deal and that he is coming for that title.

The lightweight division has a big question mark on it in terms of who is ranked where for a title shot.

Pettis was the No. 1 contender but since Edgar and Maynard went to a draw, a rematch was announced and Pettis decided to take the fight with Guida, which he lost by unanimous decision.

Jim Miller was up next, but as everyone saw the other night, he was demolished by Ben Henderson.

After Edgar and Maynard, it appears that the top guys are: Clay Guida, Melvin Guillard, Dennis Siver, Ben Henderson, Donald Cerrone, Jim Miller and Anthony Pettis. There are a few guys who are knocking on the door, but overall those are your top guys.

Ben Henderson and Melvin Guillard appear to have the most momentum riding with them and with Guillard fighting Joe Lauzon next, what are Ben Henderson’s options?

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UFC: John Howard Calls out Dan Hardy After Hardy’s Loss to Chris Lytle

Dan Hardy has lost four fights in a row, and it all started when he lost his title fight with champion Georges St. Pierre.He had an entertaining bout with Chris Lytle that was Lytle’s final fight of his career. He had a shot for a takedown in the third…

Dan Hardy has lost four fights in a row, and it all started when he lost his title fight with champion Georges St. Pierre.

He had an entertaining bout with Chris Lytle that was Lytle’s final fight of his career. He had a shot for a takedown in the third round, and 10 seconds later, he tapped out to a guillotine choke Lytle executed perfectly.

After the fight, many assumed Hardy would be released. But Lorenzo Fertitta went to Twitter and stated Hardy would not be cut.

John Howard wasn’t too happy.

Howard, after defeating rising prospect Charlie Brenneman, was given a chance in the UFC. He debuted at UFC 94 against Chris Wilson, winning by split decision. He won his first four fights and was catching the attention of many people. But then he went on a downward spiral, losing three fights in a row. He was cut from the organization.

It is unknown when or who he will fight next.

After hearing the news, Howard updated his Facebook page with the following status: “Ok i am not hating but the UFC keeps hardy but let’s me go wtf is that.” That status caught the attention of many people, receiving almost 100 likes and over 200 comments.

Howard later made a video, which can be viewed above. He doesn’t understand how Hardy keeps his job, but he doesn’t. It is most likely because Hardy is a bigger draw, but the solution looks to now a bad idea.

He wants to Hardy. Sounds like a solid idea.

The UFC will not give Hardy a top contender for a while. Even though Howard was cut, it would be no problem re-signing him.

So, Dana, Lorenzo, Joe…What do you think? Make this fight happen!

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Lytle vs Hardy Preview and the 15 Most Impressive Finishes in the UFC of 2011

Sunday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle will square of in a welterweight match up that has fight of the year written all over it. Both men always leave it all inside the octagon. Both men are coming off of a loss, and need to re…

Chris Lytle is an extremely well-rounded fighter. He is a former high school wrestler, pro boxer and is also a second degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. His MMA record is 30-18-5, he lost 16 of the 18 fights by decision and the other two losses were due to doctor stoppages. Lytle is as tough as they come. As a pro boxer he compiled a 13-1-1 and was an Indiana state champion, defending his belt two times. At almost 37 years old, his career is coming to a close, but he is in arguably the best shape of his life.

Lytle is the type of fighter that lays it on you. He is extremely active throughout the whole fight. He likes to stand and trade, but when the time is right he isn’t afraid to take you down and submit you. In his bout with Hardy, the smart thing would be to take the fight to the ground, where Hardy lacks experience but will never give up.

Dan Hardy is one of the most well liked fighters in the UFC. He is all about his fans, and always shows up to put on an exciting show. He is primarily a striker, but has recently started training with Roy Nelson to improve his ground game. He has lost three fights in a row, if he loses this there is a high chance he will be cut unless the UFC wants to save him for a card overseas, due to his popularity.

Hardy needs to keep his distance and play this fight smart. He needs to cut off Lytle and counter his punches. He also needs to maintain octagon control. If he doesn’t then it maybe a long night for him, because Lytle will be able to score take down after take down.

These two men are a great match up for each other, and with eight post fight bonuses under his belt this fight sets Lytle up for a ninth. This fight will be at a fast pace, most likely with Lytle getting the better of Hardy in the take down department. This fight will be back and fourth, but Lytle should catch him in the second round with an impressive submission, and possibly taking submission of the night honors.

This truly should be an impressive fight, now let’s take a look at the ten most impressive finishes in the UFC so far in 2011.

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Brock Lesnar: Things He Must Accomplish to Get Back on Top Again

The heavyweight division in the UFC is a huge question mark right now. No one knows who gets the winner of Dos Santos and Velasquez, or who is even in the best position to get a chance at the opportunity.Frank Mir recently defeated Roy Nelson and is mo…

Frank Mir recently defeated Roy Nelson and is most likely in the best position for a title shot than anyone else at the current moment. Shane Carwin recently lost to Dos Santos, so a fight with himself and Mir could happen.

There are many up and comers in the division, and with the acquisition of Strikeforce, there is no determined time to know when they will mix in their heavyweights with the UFC heavyweights.

Brock Lesnar is expected to return to the octagon by the end of this year, but no later than the summer of 2012. What must he do to get back into the title picture?

Lesnar came to the UFC with tons of hype; in his first seven fights, he faced six men ranked in the top 10 at the time of the fights. 4-2 against top 10 is a better statistic than former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem, who is 3-8 against top 10.

Brock is one of the most criticized fighters in MMA, and most fans mainly state that he has horrible stand up. That reason was based off of his last two performances where he fought two of the heaviest hitters in MMA.

Carwin pounded on Lesnar for a round, but Brock recovered; Carwin gassed and Lesnar landed the submission.

In the Velasquez fight, he was doing fine and actually winning the round until he shot hard for a take down, lost his balance and once he regained his balance, he was met with a flurry of punches that set up the end for him.

The first thing Brock must do is get his diverticulitis under control. It has caused him a total of 22 months out of action. He recently withdrew from his fight with Dos Santos, and a legitimate return date is undetermined at the moment.

From what has been said, Brock had successful surgery and will be appearing at the UFC fan expo for UFC 136 in Houston.

Next, he needs a solid win under his belt to rebuild his confidence. The completion of the trilogy with Frank Mir would be a great fight for him, or maybe take on a mid-level fighter and work his way up.

Brock Lesnar vs Cheick Kongo would make for a fun fight. The one thing that is certain, is that no matter how much money Brock brings in, he needs to start from the bottom and work his way up.

If Brock is thrown into a rematch with Carwin, or set up with a quick path to the title that requires three fights or fewer, then the UFC will be making a mistake.

In order for the UFC to be able to truly market a guy, he must be winning. Brock was put in the golden situation for his career with the WWE, and his name is just extremely marketable. The smartest thing that could happen for him is a fight with a guy like Joey Beltran.

Brock in all truths is only considered a prospect when you look at his record, he just happened to face the majority of the top guys.

Coming off of this sickness is the perfect opportunity for Lesnar to truthfully evolve as a mixed martial artist. He needs 5-7 fights before he fights for a title. Let him become comfortable with his skill set and then he could have the potential to really be a force at heavyweight.

He is 34 years old and has arguably 5-6 years left in him. There is no denying his athletic ability or his skill set. Everyone knows that he is good, but there is a huge gap between good and great, and the only way he can truly accomplish greatness is by starting at the bottom and working his way to the top, which would allow his skill set to evolve, making him a force to be reckoned with.

Lastly, he needs to branch out and train with other gyms so he can learn new things. He has a great camp with his Deathclutch team, but if he were to cross train at a few different gyms, he could encounter multiple types of sparring partners, as well as new techniques.

At the current moment, Lesnar is all wrestling and power, but is continuing to improve on his striking.

Get a handle on his sickness, work his way up from the bottom, and cross train with gyms. Those are the steps he must take in order to become a true serious threat.

Many people do not care for him, but everyone knows that if Brock was able to tweak a few aspects of his game that he could be almost unstoppable.

The ball is in Brock’s court now, he chooses his fate.

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