Former UFC heavyweight champ Josh ‘The Warmaster’ Barnett (32-6) has his first opponent for his return bout to the Octagon with the announcement that he will face Frank Mir (16-7) this summer at UFC 164.
Officials announced the matchup via Twitter (@UFC) on Wednesday evening.
– #UFC164 gets a heavyweight clash of entertainers – @TheFrankMir vs @JoshLBarnett! Tix now on pre-sale http://www.ticketmaster.com/ufc-164-milwaukee-wisconsin-08-31-2013/event/07004AA896193A6D?artistid=806762&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=830 …#HD110 #MKE
UFC 164 is expected to take place on August 31, 2013 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The bout between Barnett and Mir is certainly to appear on the main card.
Barnett returns to the Ultimate Fighting Championship after an eleven year absence moving over from the Strikeforce promotion. ‘The Warmaster’ fought at the former promotions last event in January, taking on newcomer Nandor Guelmino via first round submission. The win put Barnett back into the win column following a decision loss to Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final.
Mir has dropped his last two matches, with a loss to Cormier by decision last month at the UFC on FOX 7 show and a second round TKO defeat in a UFC title match to Junior dos Santos. Leading up to those losses, Mir had won three straight with victories against Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Roy Nelson, and Mirko Filipovi?.