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UFC 146 Results: Is Frank Mir Still a Threat in the Heavyweight Division?

In short, the answer to the question is yes. But an apter question is, to what degree is the former champion a threat?The UFC Heavyweight Championship bout on Saturday night was not competitive. All credit goes to the outstanding skills of the champion…

In short, the answer to the question is yes. But an apter question is, to what degree is the former champion a threat?

The UFC Heavyweight Championship bout on Saturday night was not competitive. All credit goes to the outstanding skills of the champion, Junior dos Santos. But the question has to be posed about the longtime contender.

In the past three years, Frank Mir is 4-3. All losses in a championship bout. All losses to heavy-hitters.

The victories also must be looked at. Roy Nelson is a solid feather in his cap. Mir put together a solid performance that led him to a decision victory. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, while a legend, is not a top contender anymore. Neither is Cro Cop. Was Chieck Kongo ever truly a threat to the division’s crown? No.

That is not to take away from those performances, but they must be laid out for perspective.

Mir’s ground game is devastating. He has shown this. However, he does not have the dynamic wrestling to consistently put himself in top position or the strength of powerful wrestlers to make the bottom a dangerous choice. Fighters with moderate takedown defense have been able to stuff his shots.

The elite heavyweights have passed Mir by. Powerful strikers with good takedown defense or champion wrestlers with incredible positioning and control. Mir has a specific path to victory against the elite of the division and it requires the fight to be fought in one area, and that is not a formula for success at the championship level.

Regardless, Mir remains a threat to anyone who wants to play with fire.

His biggest asset is his brain. The former champion is a fantastic analyst who can break down his opponent’s game to find holes and he is also great at mental warfare.

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture has already shown that even though one’s skills dip later in his career, the mind remains the biggest asset to a fighter.

Despite his struggles against championship fighters, Mir proves time and time again that he remains at the top of the division. His jiu-jitsu game makes him a constant threat in any fight.

The majority of the heavyweight division still lacks an all-around game that Mir can exploit to put himself back in title contention. If the opposition wants to take the fight to the floor, you can expect Mir to keep himself relevant in the heavyweight division.

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UFC 146 Fight Card: Is Frank Mir the Most Underrated Heavyweight in History?

When listing the legends of the UFC heavyweight division, Frank Mir does not immediately jump to mind.When Mir is involved in a championship fight, he is often written off. However, stepping back and looking at his accomplishments in the sport, Frank M…

When listing the legends of the UFC heavyweight division, Frank Mir does not immediately jump to mind.

When Mir is involved in a championship fight, he is often written off. However, stepping back and looking at his accomplishments in the sport, Frank Mir stands out as one of the most successful heavyweights to step inside the cage and compete.

Mir is a two-time UFC heavyweight champion, with sixteen professional victories under his belt. He is arguably the greatest heavyweight submission artist to date.

Mir began his career with an 8-1 record. He had one of the first big submission highlights in company history when he snapped Tim Sylvia’s arm to capture his first UFC Heavyweight Championship. Months after winning gold, he suffered the ill-fated motorcycle accident.

It took nearly two years for the former champion to return to the Octagon. His comeback was rocky, with losses to Marcio Cruz and Brandon Vera. But how many men could even come back from an accident like that to compete in the sport’s biggest promotion?

At UFC 74, Mir submitted Antoni Hardonk in a little over a minute and proclaimed that he was back. While skeptics doubted that this was true, Mir knew it to be the case.

With a win under his belt and a marketable name, he was picked to welcome Brock Lesnar to the Octagon. And he welcomed him with a kneebar that placed Mir in an interim UFC Heavyweight Championship tilt with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Once again, Mir was written off. How would he defeat Big Nog?

He certainly could not submit him, and not even the great Fedor had been able to stop him. It seemed like a formality. But when the bell sounded, Mir shocked the MMA world by stopping the heavyweight legend via strikes to claim the interim strap.

Since Mir proclaimed that he was back on August 25, 2007 at UFC 74, he has only lost twice. Both times he was fighting for a UFC championship. And in that span, he has put on impressive performances against some of the division’s top fighters.

Saturday he is once again the underdog, seemingly in over his head with no path to victory. With a win, Mir could claim that he is the best heavyweight in the world and perhaps get the long deserved recognition for his accomplishments. A loss will have fans saying, “I told you so.”

In the relatively short history of MMA, Mir stands out.

His accomplishments rival that of most other heavyweights. He has defeated legends and contenders, and captured the most coveted prize in MMA twice. With a victory in his fifth title appearance, he would join Randy Couture to become the second fighter to capture the UFC Heavyweight Championship for the third time.

When Mir gets inside the Octagon to contend for the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Junior dos Santos this Saturday, fans need to stop taking the long-time contender for granted and appreciate what he has given to all of us for many years.

Win or lose, Frank Mir is one of the greatest heavyweights to compete in MMA.

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Why MMA in New York Is Far from a Necessity

New York. Madison Square Garden. “The Mecca.” The mixed martial arts world has been focused on the trials and tribulations of the sport’s regulation in the state for several years.UFC president Dana White has stated that the organization al…

New York. Madison Square Garden. “The Mecca.” The mixed martial arts world has been focused on the trials and tribulations of the sport’s regulation in the state for several years.

UFC president Dana White has stated that the organization already has a deal in place to stage an event in Madison Square Garden when the sport is regulated in the state.

The political fight to get the sport regulated has gone on for far too long. The Zuffa lobbyists have laid out the economical impact that their brand would bring to the city and state, but still nothing. The sport does not need New York. It would simply be a luxury to have.

The landscape of sports has grown along with the rest of the world. Mass media has shifted the balance of power. It is not as if MMA is banned from the New York media. They have utilized it to great effect already.

Seeing a massive advertisement in Times Square is not a novel occurrence anymore. Fighter appearances in the city are not either.

It is the power of the New York media which is what the sport needs and are receiving. Running a show in the state would merely be a bonus.

The idea that Madison Square Garden is “The Mecca” is an antiquated notion. It no longer is. It is a historic sports venue, no doubt, but ask any casual fan if it holds any significance to them and you will likely hear that it does not.

The thought that the sport needs the state of New York is simply wrong.

Other cities such as Toronto, Rio de Janeiro and the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, are the apples of the MMA eye. Even boxing has avoided bringing the cream of the crop to MSG in recent years.

In the past decade, what was the highest profile fight to grace the venue? Trinidad vs. Mayorga or Calzaghe vs. Jones, Jr.? Not exactly the sport’s premiere events.

The Garden is no longer “The Mecca” and it should not be called that anymore. It has lost its significance to fans and combat sports. It is expected that the big fights be held in Las Vegas or a stadium such as Cowboys Stadium.

The sport is already reaping the benefits of the mainstream media. There is no reason to believe that New York is a necessity. The UFC has many different avenues to take their product to, around the globe, that would garner major attention.

The paradigm that once was has shifted. It is no secret.

At one point, the championship fights in any combat sport would be targeting New York and Madison Square Garden as the venue for the high-profile fight. But that point was prior to the 1980s. Now it is expected that those fights take place in Sin City. It is time to quit placing The Big Apple on a pedestal.

When the sport becomes regulated in the state the UFC will put on a major card for the first event in MSG. It will do great numbers. But like the other major markets that were opened up for the organization, do not expect frequent trips back with the same cards.

It is not a necessity anymore. It is no longer “The Mecca.” New York is just another state.

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Ronda Rousey: On the Path to Becoming the Most Important Figure in WMMA History

Pioneers such as Debbi Purcell were vital. The marketing of Gina Carano was important. Cyborg Santos showed that women’s MMA could be just as exciting and violent as the men. But it is current Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey who is on the path to bei…

The likes of Purcell and others are important figures in the WMMA lexicon and the early pioneers of the female presence in the cage should not be forgotten, but they never elevated the sport.

Carano blazed a trail of being the first female fighter in a sanctioned bout in the state of Nevada, the first televised female fight on Showtime and on network television. The opportunity to promote the marketable Carano by Strikeforce and EliteXC put women’s MMA on the map.

While Carano has fallen out of favor with many MMA fans, her presence and importance has to be noted.

Rousey, however, is leading a new charge that has invigorated the fans to see a bright future for all the women in the sport.

Carano brought style to the casual audience. Cyborg brought substance. Ronda Rousey brings both style and substance with a charismatic personality that shines.

When Zuffa purchased Strikeforce, the fate of women’s MMA hung in the balance. While many lamented it was the beginning of the end, they reached out and signed the former Olympian. With quick finishes, and nice post-fight interviews, Strikeforce found themselves with a potential new star.

The months leading up to the Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey fight caught the attention of the MMA world. And the dominant performance by Rousey put her on the map for good. Since that time she has been jet-setting across the nation for appearances that has the casual fan asking when, not if, she will fight inside the Octagon. Pundits have called for her to defend the title on a UFC on FOX card.

And therein lies where Rousey becomes, potentially, the most important figure in WMMA history.

If she continues on her current trajectory, then Zuffa will see the value in her and female division(s). As Strikeforce continues to fade, her star-power and marketability will force Zuffa to create a female championship and promote her as a UFC fighter.

With her presence at the front of women’s MMA, it will see the bright lights of a UFC event. It will be broadcast to the legions of UFC fans across the world. It will hit the, dare I say, mainstream.

Rousey’s popularity will continue to draw fans to the women who participate in this sport. It will help facilitate the growth of every division and other organizations such as Invicta FC. While many discredited Rousey’s title shot in March due to her way with words, they owe Rousey a “thank you,” as her wordsmithery is what started this potential boom.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but Rousey’s charisma and athleticism is transcending to the casual fans. She is what the sport always needed. If she can get the women to the inside of the glorified cage of the Octagon, she will be the biggest contributor to WMMA in its history.

Ronda Rousey is the linchpin for the sport. Without her, this now bright future is only a hope. They should begin carving her likeness into the side of the women’s MMA Mount Rushmore.

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Why More Athletes Will Forgo Other Professional Sports to Become MMA Fighters

The UFC is coming off another successful show on network television, proving that the sport of MMA is beginning to cross in to the mainstream. Over the course of modern mixed martial arts history, we have seen the sport grow from style-vs.-style fights…

As the sport continues to expand across the world, more athletes will choose to forgo their other athletic endeavors for the hopes of reaching the eight-sided cage known simply as The Octagon.

Athletes gravitate toward the platforms that will offer them a chance to make a living out of their passion to compete. With the UFC showing growing paydays, now athletes are beginning to see that a career fighting in mixed martial arts can be lucrative.

The world-class athletes that have multiple directions to take their careers favor the ones with the next step in achievement. The athletes in the major sports are able to look forward to transferring from high school to college and hopefully beyond. Kids that grow up in boxing gyms can at least look to attain Golden Gloves and Olympic-level status.

That sort of end game had not been associated with mixed martial arts until recently.

Sure, Judo, wrestling and other forms of martial arts are Olympic sports. But there was no professional outlet that could help them make a living. Dana White and the Fertittas have changed this.

They have elevated the sport to where it is now a goal that these athletes can see in the distance.

Type-A personalities have an innate desire to excel on a personal level. Combat sports is the ultimate outlet. It always has been and always will be. Now that MMA has fascinated and captured the imaginations of the next generation of athletes, more will grow up with the option to compete in the back of their minds.

On the most basic level, it is in our blood to be dominant as a species. It appeals to our basic needs.

And as the public becomes more knowledgeable and the dangers of concussions in the beloved sports such as football, many parents may become wary of putting their children in the collision sport.

Yes, combat sports are inherently dangerous but MMA has shown that the dangers are not as severe as other sports. Thanks to wrestling and the submission arts, fights do not have to be contested in a brain beating stand-up fight.

The long-term damage sustained in that of MMA has thus far proven far less than its combat sports counterpart. And the question is now being asked if it is safer than our most beloved sport of football.

Growing up, children identify with the popular sports that are accessible to them through television and scholastic athletic programs. Over the past decade, there has not been a sport that has connected to the younger audience more than the UFC. Moving forward, this will pay dividends.

Training centers are opening across the country, making training more readily available. And many that still cannot get to those gyms have high school wrestling teams to be a part of. This is building a new corp of future mixed martial artists who see it as a goal to reach.

Overall, the new crop of athletes that are just being born into this world are beginning to see a sport that has evolved into a profitable and, relatively, safe outlet for athletes.

Athletes will see MMA as the viable endgame for the ultimate test. They can use the various styles of mixed martial arts to compete at high school, collegiate and Olympic levels with the possibility of turning pro in MMA and making a living with their passion.

While fans have enjoyed the less athletic fighters and characters of the past, we are already seeing the shift to true athletes who are picking up the varying techniques quickly. MMA will soon feature a plethora of elite-level talent filling rosters of various organizations making the sport even more enjoyable to watch.

The future of MMA is incredibly bright.

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What Options Does the UFC Have for Alistair Overeem When He Returns?

The Nevada State Athletic Commission denied Alistair Overeem’s license on April 24 due to elevated testosterone levels. This was well documented.UFC President Dana White has spoken to the media recently about how Overeem lied to his face. Tha…

The Nevada State Athletic Commission denied Alistair Overeem’s license on April 24 due to elevated testosterone levels. This was well documented.

UFC President Dana White has spoken to the media recently about how Overeem lied to his face. That set a fire under White’s backside. It is clear that the heavyweight has struck a nerve with the brass.

Instead of a 12-month ban, the superstar heavyweight was given a generous nine-month wait where he can then re-apply for a license.

But then what?

The UFC is still contemplating how they will respond to the 14:1 ratio and the subsequent fallout that has had the UFC searching for replacement after replacement for UFC 146.

These are their options.

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