Daniel Cormier with the Strikeforce Grand Prix title – Photo via Strikeforce.com
The expected final heavyweight bout under the Strikeforce banner will take place on November 4, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
Strikeforce Grand Prix Tournament champ Daniel Cormier (10-0) returns to his former home, he wrestled for Oklahoma State University, to take on former UFC champion Frank Mir (16-6).
Both fighters confirmed the date for their upcoming bout in separate interviews this past weekend.
Speaking to USAToday.com, Cormier was excited to be returning to Oklahoma.
“I am excited to be going back to Oklahoma for this fight because it’s been like my second home,” Cormier, a Louisiana native, said. “My first fight was in Oklahoma, and the biggest fight of my Strikeforce career will be there.”
“Fighting Frank Mir is an honor, as I’ve always viewed him as a great warrior and champion of the sport,” Cormier said. “This matchup shows that Zuffa is committed to putting me in big fights, and for that I thank them.”
While Mir announced the date to MMAFightCorner.com.
“I think I am going to get boo’ed quite a bit,” Mir said. “It hurts my feelings, but I’ll get over it.”
As far as preparing for Cormier, Mir said he’s hoping to avoid taking too many of Cormier’s vicious slams. But also warned that he has a growing collection of snapped arms and can obviously handle himself on the ground. “I’m not going to argue with the guy, if he doesn’t want me to take him down, I’m not going to take him down, so I’m just going to have to make sure he suffers from that decision,” Frank said. “And, I’m more proficient than anyone he’s ever fought at finishing fights, I’ve broken the limbs of people much stronger and bigger than him.”
Cormier has yet to suffer a professional defeat, winning ten straight including seven inside the Strikeforce cage. The former Olympic wrestler had his last fight this past May, earning a decision over Josh Barnett to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament. Cormier finished Antonio ‘Big Foot’ Silva and Jeff Monson to make it into the finals.
Mir is 3-1 in over his last four matches, losing a title bout versus reigning UFC champ Junior dos Santos last May at UFC 146 via second round TKO. Mir’s previous victories included a submission finish over Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, a decision over Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson, and a third round knockout of Mirko Filipovi?.