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Frank Mir Looking to Make Todd Duffee Regret Calling Him out at Fight Night 71

When a fighter carries the amount of credentials and name recognition that Frank Mir has, there are going to be fighters taking aim at the target on his back.
After more than a decade spent as one of the elite heavyweights in the sport, that’s cer…

When a fighter carries the amount of credentials and name recognition that Frank Mir has, there are going to be fighters taking aim at the target on his back.

After more than a decade spent as one of the elite heavyweights in the sport, that’s certainly nothing new to the former two-time champion, but it also doesn’t mean he has to pay attention to it either.

While that’s typically the case for the 36-year-old Las Vegas native, something different occurred when Todd Duffee started calling him out several months back. The heavyweight staple had just snapped a career-worst four-fight losing streak in spectacular fashion, as he scored a devastating knockout victory over Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in the first round of their tilt at UFC Fight Night 61.

Defeating the former title challenger not only put Mir back into the win column and more than likely salvaged his roster spot in the UFC heavyweight fold, but it served to recharge his relevance in the division as well.

His resurgent profile once again shining caught the attention of the heavy-handed knockout artist looking to make up for ground lost by injury and time away from the cage.

That’s all fine and good where Mir is concerned, but he’s never been anyone’s stepping stone to bigger things, and he certainly doesn’t plan to be anytime soon.

Mir and Duffee will square off in the main event at Fight Night 71 on Wednesday, and the man widely regarded as one of the best submission aces in heavyweight history believes he has a harsh lesson to hand out to his opponent in San Diego.

“Hearing him call me out irritated me and it actually got me motivated,” Mir told Bleacher Report. “That got me up and training hard and to accept the fight. I’m sure he has his up-and-down moments right now where I think he regrets what he did. Even with that, it still makes sense—and probably why his corner never talked him out of it—because he goes out there and gets finished by me real quick in the first round, he still gets to say he was out there against Frank Mir and it boosts his experience level.

“Losing to me is not going to hurt his career, where losing to someone else who wasn’t ranked would do a lot of damage, and that was more than likely who he would have been lined up with next had this not happened.”

Going toe-to-toe with Duffee will be the immediate challenge in his quest to get back into title contention, and getting another chance to fight for the heavyweight title is exactly where Mir is looking to go.

Granted, there have been plenty of ups and downs for the perennial contender in recent years, but the arm-snapping specialist is certainly no stranger to adversity, as the triumphant comeback has become somewhat of a calling card for Mir throughout his career.

It’s in the wealth of his experiences competing at the highest level of the sport where he’s found his ability to lock in the objective at hand. All the hovering circumstances of what could or couldn’t happen in the aftermath of the fight are all things he drowns out as he keeps his attention fixed on his upcoming opponent.

And while he was certainly aware of what was on the table heading into his last fight—and he will be for every fight going forward—it’s always going to be the actual fight that matters most.

“After winning my last fight, it felt great,” Mir said. “It was very much a relief for my family to know that I could still go out there and perform and get the win. Leading up to the fight, I was really able to block out all the noise around me and focus on the task at hand. I’ve been in the UFC so long and have been in so many big fights that it has allowed me to really lock in my focus on objects. The win was very rewarding, but leading up to it, things weren’t as distracting as people may have thought it was. It is always about the fight and nothing else really matters to me.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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UFC Fight Night 71: Best DraftKings Fantasy Picks for Mir vs. Duffee Card

Don’t get caught up in nostalgia or believing the wily veteran can work some magic. Frank Mir is going to get knocked out in the first or second round by Todd Duffee on Wednesday, and you’ll want to collect the fantasy points the latter produces from h…

Every one of Duffee‘s 11 professional MMA fights has ended in KO. He’s been the victim just twice. Duffee throws bombs and looks to finish opponents early. Frank Mir may be banking on Duffee expending too much energy early.

Per the UFC on Twitter, Duffee is prepared to take his time.

Mir is an excellent submissions fighter, but getting Duffee in a compromising situation is a difficult task. Duffee has a 90 percent takedown defense rating, per Fight Metric. If Mir can’t get the fight to the ground, he’s going to eat shots. Duffee is too big and strong for anyone to take his punches without going to sleep.

Duffee comes into the event averaging an event-high 87.6 fantasy points per fight. He’ll be the biggest fantasy producer on Wednesday as well. Draft Duffee for $10,500. Here’s a look at my optimal lineup for UFC Fight Night 71:

Another Mauling

Alan Jouban ($11,800) has captured eight of his 11 victories by KO in his MMA career. He’s aggressive, tough and always on the prowl for the stoppage. He’ll be facing the long, lean and defensively flawed Matt Dwyer on Wednesday.

Dwyer was stopped by Albert Tumenov in his UFC debut. In his fight before that against DaMarques Johnson in Battlefield Fight League, Dwyer was rocked and nearly stopped in the first round before rallying for the TKO victory.

He did score a win by spectacular superman punch in his last fight against William Macario in February, but Jouban is a different animal.

Dwyer has a huge heart and he’s tough, but his lack of effective striking defense will lead to a KO loss. Jouban might be neck and neck with Duffee for top fantasy producer from the event after this one.

Upsets

Reneau ($9,000) over Holm

Many are high on Holly Holm, and with good reason. Holm has a stellar background as a boxer, and she’s a great athlete all around. Even with those qualities, Holm is headed for a matchup that she’s going to lose against Marion Reneau.

Holm has worked on her game, but it didn’t look up to snuff enough in her UFC debut against Raquel Pennington in February. Holm won a split decision, but she’s stepping up in class to face Reneau.

Versatility is Reneau‘s specialty. She has excellent boxing—though she probably doesn’t want to do that with Holm—and leg kicks. Reneau may use those skills to vary her attacks, but ultimately she’ll take Holm down and control the fight en route to a decision win.

Reneau may not score big, but she’ll prove to be a worthwhile and relatively low-cost investment.

Moontasri ($8,200) over Lee

Kevin Lee has a hefty DraftKings salary for his fight against James “Moonwalker” Moontasri, but the latter is my pick to shine. Lee looks the part of a powerful striker, but he’s more of a wrestler.

None of Lee’s 10 victories have come by KO in his career. Moontasri is a skilled and unpredictable striker. It wouldn’t be smart for Lee to try to stand with Moontasri. Lee’s biggest advantage would be on the ground, but Moontasri is not an easy fighter to take down.

This is Moontasri‘s third fight in the UFC, and he’s stopped 83 percent of the takedowns attempted against him, per Fight Metric. Also, in watching one of his last fights before joining the UFC, Moontasri was also a handful to take down for Jordan Rinaldi.

Lee hasn’t been all that efficient when it comes to taking down opponents. Fighters like Moontasri who have powerful legs and thighs will be an even bigger problem to wrestle to the ground. Lee’s takedown rate is just 38 percent. Moontasri will keep the fight standing, and he’ll pick away at Lee from the outside.

A decision win for Moontasri wouldn’t be a shock, but it’s easy to see how this fight could end in a TKO win for Moontasri.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter.

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UFC Fight Night 71: Mir vs. Duffee Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More

After the show the Utimate Fighting Championship put on for UFC 189 and in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter Season 21 Finale on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, Frank Mir and Todd Duffee have tough acts to follow. The two heavyweights will…

After the show the Utimate Fighting Championship put on for UFC 189 and in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter Season 21 Finale on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, Frank Mir and Todd Duffee have tough acts to follow. The two heavyweights will clash in the main event of UFC Fight Night 71 in San Diego, California, on Wednesday night.

Mir is a legend and future Hall of Famer who likely saved his career with a knockout win over Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in February. He had lost his previous four fights before coming up with the win over Silva. Mir will be hoping to make it two wins in a row against Duffee.

The latter is among the most devastating strikers in the heavyweight division. None of Duffee’s professional MMA bouts have ever gone the distance. Every one of them has ended in a KO, and only two have made it out of the first round. Duffee famously stopped Tim Hague in just seven seconds back in 2009.

Duffee has been stopped twice in his career: once by Alistair Overeem in K1 and the other time by Mike Russow in Duffee’s second UFC fight. When this guy steps into the Octagon, it’s safe to assume somebody is going to get knocked out.

Mir is a wily veteran and one of the most prolific submissions fighters in MMA history. To win this fight, he has to take Duffee down. That’s easier said than done. In addition to the brutal strikes Duffee launches at opponents, the 29-year-old from Evansville, Indiana, also has a 90 percent takedown defense rating in his UFC career, per FightMetric.com.

Damon Martin of UFC.com believes Duffee will finish Mir if he takes his time. Martin writes:

“If Duffee doesn’t go out like a ball of fire and just try to torch Mir and instead allows the fight to come to him, he should be able to put together a combination to put the former heavyweight champion on the ground once and for all.”

This is shaping up to be another first-round KO in favor of Duffee. As usual, he won’t waste time pushing the action. Duffee’s explosiveness will overwhelm Mir and lead to a KO victory.

Here’s a look at viewing information as well as the entire card and predictions for each bout.

El Cucuy Will Nip the Punk

Josh “The Punk” Thomson’s last three losses have come by split decision. That number might grow to four after Wednesday. Thomson takes on the streaking Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson. The latter has won five fights in a row and ascended to No. 11 in the lightweight rankings.

His submission game has been excellent, and his striking vastly improved from earlier in his career. Thomson is usually an effective striker, as evidenced by his 48 percent striking accuracy, per FightMetric.com. However, it might be difficult finding the range against Ferguson.

El Cucuy will enjoy a five-inch reach advantage. As the longer fighter, Ferguson will control the distance and neutralize Thomson’s attempts to score during standing exchanges.

Once the fight goes to the ground, Thomson is very tough to finish, but Ferguson is good enough to keep his opponent on the defensive. Based on Octagon control, Ferguson will win a decision.

The Bruiser Will Derail the Holm Hype Train

Holly Holm has excellent tools to develop into a solid mixed martial artist, but she lacks confidence and refinement in her grappling. Marion “The Belizean Bruiser” Reneau has a surplus supply of both qualities, and she’s going to beat Holm.

Reneau is a cerebral but aggressive fighter. She’ll come forward using angles and back Holm up against the cage. Her best quality is her versatility, which is something Holm lacks at this point in her career. At some point, the fight will go to the ground, and Reneau will have the opportunity to show off more of the submission skills she displayed in her victory over Jessica Andrade in February.

Reneau is 6-1 overall and has won five fights in a row. At 38 years old, she has a sense of urgency that helps to provide a spark. Per Jordan Newmark of UFC.com, Reneau said:

“I’m loving this ride. I have nothing to complain about. I’m really just enjoying the ride and trying to take it as far as I can and for as long as I can.”

With a win, Reneau could be one of the next in line to challenge for the women’s bantamweight title—although Jessica Eye might have something to say about that when she takes on Miesha Tate on July 25 in Chicago.

Nonetheless, look for Reneau to send Holm back to the drawing board as her rise to stardom will hit a detour.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC FN 71: A Todd Duffee Win over Mir Would Cement His Status as a HW Player

When Todd Duffee made his UFC debut in 2007, he stormed through the heavyweight division, racking up his first six wins by knockout. He was a force to be reckoned with, and he looked ready to dominate the 265-pound division.

However, at UFC 114, …

However, at UFC 114, in a fight that he was winning, Duffee was suddenly knocked out by Mike Russow. Subsequently, Duffee was released from the organization. He then fought in lesser-known organizations until making his way back to the UFC in 2012.

Upon his return to the world’s largest mixed martial arts brand, Duffee (9-2) has demonstrated his potential for success by knocking out his last three opponents. In fact, aside from the two losses at the end of his first stint, the 29-year-old has knocked out every one of his foes.

He is in the process of working his way back up the division’s totem pole, and now he has the opportunity to face former world champion Frank Mir at UFC Fight Night 71.

All roads lead through Mir, as he is the heavyweight division’s No. 10 contender. Without a doubt, Mir represents the greatest challenge Duffee has faced in the UFC. Mir has conquered legends and world champions, such as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice), Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic, Brock Lesnar and Tim Sylvia.

However, at 36 years old, Mir is 1-4 in his last five fights, and he considered leaving the sport for good after his decision loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 169. According to Damon Martin of Fox Sports, Mir stated, “After the Alistair Overeem fight, I actually even had a meeting with Lorenzo (Fertitta) and told him I’m done. Let me look at doing broadcasting or what not.”

However, with his most recent knockout victory against Antonio Silva at UFC Fight Night 61, Mir has reinvigorated his career to a degree.

At the same time, on July 15, he’ll face a man who is coming off a three-fight winning streak and sports tremendous knockout power. Per Damon Martin of Fox Sports, Duffee stated:

It’s clear as day. I’m very dangerous. Everybody knows it, it’s no secret. It’s a dangerous fight for Frank Mir. I’m young, athletic, I finish people and he knows that. We’ve trained together, he knows that.

Toppling Mir will present Duffee with the opportunity to break into the division’s top 10 for the first time and cement himself among the UFC’s most prominent heavyweights.

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UFC FN 71: A Todd Duffee Win over Mir Would Cement His Status as a HW Player

However, at UFC 114, …

He is in the process of working his way back up the division’s totem pole, and now he has the opportunity to face former world champion Frank Mir at UFC Fight Night 71.

However, with his most recent knockout victory against Antonio Silva at UFC Fight Night 61, Mir has reinvigorated his career to a degree.

At the same time, on July 15, he’ll face a man who is coming off a three-fight winning streak and sports tremendous knockout power. Per Damon Martin of Fox Sports, Duffee stated:

It’s clear as day. I’m very dangerous. Everybody knows it, it’s no secret. It’s a dangerous fight for Frank Mir. I’m young, athletic, I finish people and he knows that. We’ve trained together, he knows that.

Toppling Mir will present Duffee with the opportunity to break into the division’s top 10 for the first time and cement himself among the UFC’s most prominent heavyweights.

______________________

Follow this contributor @clintonbullock

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Frank Mir vs. Todd Duffee Set for Main Event at Fight Night 71

Todd Duffee has been pursuing a fight with Frank Mir for weeks, and it looks like he finally got his wish.
The resurgent powerhouse will step into the Octagon with the former two-time heavyweight champion in the main event when the UFC returns to San D…

Todd Duffee has been pursuing a fight with Frank Mir for weeks, and it looks like he finally got his wish.

The resurgent powerhouse will step into the Octagon with the former two-time heavyweight champion in the main event when the UFC returns to San Diego for Fight Night 71. The news was broke by Ariel Helwani during the most recent installment of UFC Tonight on Wednesday, where it was officially confirmed the two heavyweights had agreed to the bout.

After a two-year absence from the sport’s biggest stage, the American Top Team product returned to pick up a quick knockout over Phil De Fries at UFC 155 in December 2012. Following his victory in Las Vegas, Duffee was diagnosed with Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, and the affliction kept him on the sidelines for another lengthy stint. The 29-year-old Indiana native battled his way through rehabilitation to make a triumphant comeback against Anthony Hamilton at UFC 181 this past December, where he knocked out the Washington native in the first round.

With back-to-back victories inside the Octagon, Duffee was determined to draw one of the biggest names in the division for his next fight and set about on a social-media campaign to court Mir for that role. The heavyweight divisional staple was coming off a first-round knockout of his own as the Las Vegas native drubbed Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in quick fashion in their main event tilt at Fight Night 61 in Brazil.

Mir’s win over Silva was his first victory since submitting rival Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira in brutal fashion at UFC 140 in December 2011 and brought his four-fight losing streak to an end. While Mir—who is considered to be a perennial contender in the heavyweight ranks—may have been seeking an opponent with a higher profile for his next outing, the current divisional picture has the majority of top names currently booked in upcoming matches.

He was rumored to be in line for a trilogy bout with Brock Lesnar, but when the former champion re-signed with the WWE and officially retired from MMA that bout went up in smoke.

This situation left few options for either fighter, and the UFC saw it best to put the fight together. Mir vs. Duffee will be a crucial matchup for both men, as the Coconut Creek, Florida, transplant will be looking to obtain the biggest victory of his career, while the jiu-jitsu ace will be out to gain more traction on his run toward another shot at the heavyweight title. They are slated to square off on July 15 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com