The Rallies are Over: Frank Mir to Fight Junior dos Santos at UFC 146


Why yes, I do like Huey Lewis and The News… Props: Las Vegas Sun

The speculation has officially ended. After ruling out Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez and Mark Hunt as potential replacements for Alistair Overeem to fight heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146, Dana White has officially announced his pick. Late last night, Dana White sent out a tweet confirming that Overeem’s replacement will be none other than…Frank Mir.

Huh. How about that?

While we’re all sure that there’s a reasonable explanation for Alistair Overeem’s suspiciously high 14:1 testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio, the UFC aren’t taking any chances. Rather than waiting for Overeem to meet with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday, “The Demolition Man” has been removed from the card entirely. Draw your own conclusions.


Why yes, I do like Huey Lewis and The News… Props: Las Vegas Sun

The speculation has officially ended. After ruling out Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez and Mark Hunt as potential replacements for Alistair Overeem to fight heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146, Dana White has officially announced his pick. Late last night, Dana White sent out a tweet confirming that Overeem’s replacement will be none other than…Frank Mir.

Huh. How about that?

While we’re all sure that there’s a reasonable explanation for Alistair Overeem’s suspiciously high 14:1 testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio, the UFC aren’t taking any chances. Rather than waiting for Overeem to meet with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday, “The Demolition Man” has been removed from the card entirely. Draw your own conclusions.

As for Frank Mir’s original opponent? Josh Gross is reporting Fabricio Werdum and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva are potential opponents for Cain Velasquez. For what it’s worth, Ariel Helwani is reporting that Fabricio Werdum has been ruled out as a potential opponent, and Velasquez will more than likely fight someone who already has a fight on the card. Basically, your guess is as good as ours at this point.

So what say you, Potato Nation? Will Mir vs. Dos Santos make for a compelling fight? What does this mean for Alistair Overeem? And for Cain Velasquez? Conspiracy theories, ad hominems and recklessly wild speculation to begin in three…two…one…

UFC 146: Overeem Pulled from Title Fight; Should Dana White Cut Him?

UFC President Dana White has announced via Twitter that Alistair Overeem has been pulled from his UFC 146 title fight with UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos. Former UFC champ Frank Mir will be taking his place.”Taking off to Atlanta!!! May 2…

UFC President Dana White has announced via Twitter that Alistair Overeem has been pulled from his UFC 146 title fight with UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos. Former UFC champ Frank Mir will be taking his place.

“Taking off to Atlanta!!! May 26th is now Mir vs JDS for the HW title in Las Vegas at MGM Grand,” tweeted White.

Though not specifically stated by White, it can be assumed that Overeem’s withdrawal from the fight is a direct result of him failing a surprise pre-fight drug test. His testosterone levels were elevated above 10:1, far exceeding the 6:1 limit.

This is not the first time the UFC has had problems with Overeem. Ahead of the Dutch kickboxing specialist’s UFC 141 bout with Brock Lesnar, Overeem failed to comply to Nevada State Athletic Commission’s request for a pre-fight test, within a reasonable amount of time.

Understandably so, Overeem is in a lot of hot water with the UFC Pres, who has openly expressed his frustration with ‘Reem.

Overeem has now been scheduled for just two fights in the UFC, one he was almost pulled out of and one that he was pulled out of.

This begs the question, should the UFC release Alistair Overeem?

I am a firm believer that performance-enhancing drugs have no place in mixed martial arts, but still the answer is no.

The UFC’s heavyweight division is one of the promotion’s weakest weight classes and so they are not in a position to be throwing away top contenders.

Furthermore, the UFC has shown leniency to other fighters before in similar situations, so it would be unfair for them to cast Overeem aside, while still employing fighters with similar grievances.

For example, Chris Leben has twice tested positive for banned substances and is still in the complany’s employ.

MMA‘s most prominent major promotion will need to keep a very close eye on Overeem from here on out, but releasing him would only succeed in taking more star power out of a division already lacking in contenders.

 

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com and stand up comedian. Check him out on Twitter. @AndrewBarr8.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 146 News: Dana White Confirms That Frank Mir Will Replace Overeem

UFC President Dana White has just confirmed via Twitter that Frank Mir will replace Alistair Overeem in the Heavyweight Championship match set to take place at UFC 146.”Taking off to Atlanta!!! May 26 th is now Mir vs JDS for the HW title in Las V…

UFC President Dana White has just confirmed via Twitter that Frank Mir will replace Alistair Overeem in the Heavyweight Championship match set to take place at UFC 146.

“Taking off to Atlanta!!! May 26 th is now Mir vs JDS for the HW title in Las Vegas at MGM Grand,” tweeted White.

Overeem has been in hot water with White since failing a surprise drug test, showing testosterone levels of higher than 10-to-1. The Dutch kickboxing specialist is scheduled to have a hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 24th to decide his fate, but it seems like White isn’t interested in waiting for those results.

The UFC president has openly expressed his frustration towards Overeem since the failed drug test, but it has not yet been announced whether or not he will release Overeem from the promotion. More information will likely come to light after ‘Reem’s NSAC hearing.

Some fans will be disappointed by this change, as many were looking forward to seeing Overeem and UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos—who are both striking specialists—go at it.

However, Mir is a former UFC champion and a more than competent replacement. He is currently riding a three-fight win streak, which includes a devastating knockout victory over Mirko Cro Cop and an unbelievable submission victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Mir was originally scheduled to fight Cain Velasquez at UFC 146 in a No.1 contender’s match. As of yet, a new opponent for Velasquez has not been announced.

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com and stand up comedian. Check him out on Twitter. @AndrewBarr8.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 146 News: Cain Velasquez Says Frank Mir Getting the Title Shot Would Be Fair

Ever since Alistair Overeem, the UFC’s No.1 contender in the heavyweight division, failed a surprise pre-fight drug test, the MMA world has been wondering who will step in to face heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146.It is worth noting that O…

Ever since Alistair Overeem, the UFC’s No.1 contender in the heavyweight division, failed a surprise pre-fight drug test, the MMA world has been wondering who will step in to face heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146.

It is worth noting that Overeem has not yet been pulled from the fight and has a hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 24th, but things are certainly not looking good for the Dutch kickboxing specialist.

If Overeem is indeed withdrawn from the bout, many have pointed to Frank Mir as the most logical replacement.

One might think that this news would be ill-received by Cain Velasquez, who is a former champion and is supposed to fight Mir at UFC 146, but according to MMAfighting.com, the former heavyweight champion has no qualms with Mir stepping in.

“I definitely think that’s fair,” Velasquez said. “He’s off a three-fight winning streak, and dos Santos beat me fair and square. I’m definitely mad about mine, but I know with one more fight, I’ll be in the same position. If that did come up, then yeah, I’d be fine with that.”

There’s no doubting that Velasquez wants another shot at the title, but it appears he’s willing to wait in line and earn his second opportunity.

Although Velasquez has been preparing for a No.1 contender’s match with Mir, he is prepared to fight anyone the UFC puts in front of him, as long as the stakes remain the same.

“As far as we know right now, it’s Frank, so that’s what I’m getting ready for,” he said. “But if it turned out to be different, it didn’t matter who it’d be, as long as it’s one more to get in that same position, to fight for the heavyweight title.”

 

Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com and stand up comedian. Check him out on Twitter. @AndrewBarr8.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Frank Mir’s Manager Does Not Rule out a Title Shot at UFC 146

Frank Mir is expected to meet Cain Velasquez at UFC 146, but there is still a possibility that if Alistair Overeem cannot compete against UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, Mir can still take his spot.Overeem is scheduled for a hearing with th…

Frank Mir is expected to meet Cain Velasquez at UFC 146, but there is still a possibility that if Alistair Overeem cannot compete against UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, Mir can still take his spot.

Overeem is scheduled for a hearing with the Nevada Athletic State Commission later this month on whether or not he will be granted a license for his UFC 146 main event.

But since testing positive for elevated testosterone last week, there has been no announcement regarding a possible replacement for the Dutchman.

Mir’s manager, Malki Kawa, spoke to MMAWeekly Radio and said he believes a final decision should be made regarding the main event at UFC 146 after the NSAC hearing on April 24th.

“What I think is happening is they’re going to wait for the decision, if Overeem gets licensed, everything goes on as planned. If Overeem doesn’t get licensed, then you can bet your house there’s going to be a replacement,” Kawa said.

Fans have setup an online petition in an effort to support heavyweight contender Mark Hunt in receiving a title shot, despite being slated to face Stefan Struve on the main card, but the UFC have remained tight-lipped on making a decision.

Kawa said that if Overeem is unable to get licensed to fight dos Santos on May 26th, he believes Mir is a suitable replacement.

Mir is a former UFC heavyweight champion, as well as owning a current three-fight winning streak over the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson.

“I think it will be Frank Mir. I don’t know anyone else that can get it,” he said. “I think Frank Mir will end up getting the shot in the event that Overeem can’t get licensed.”

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Frank Mir Would Be a Very Unhappy Man If Mark Hunt Is Given the Title Shot

We don’t know how Alistair Overeem’s licensing situation in Nevada is going to shake out until April 24, which means we don’t really know with 100 percent certainty who will face Junior dos Santos next month.That’s a weird feeling.UFC 146 isn’t that fa…

We don’t know how Alistair Overeem’s licensing situation in Nevada is going to shake out until April 24, which means we don’t really know with 100 percent certainty who will face Junior dos Santos next month.

That’s a weird feeling.

UFC 146 isn’t that far away, and we’re used to seeing plenty of promotion for title fights at this point. So you can imagine how weird it is for dos Santos, Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez, because they’re currently in the middle of a heavy training camp, all while not knowing exactly who their opponent is going to be next month.

The #RallyforHunt movement has been cute, but let’s be honest with ourselves: There’s very little chance Mark Hunt is given a title shot before Frank Mir. And rightly so. Mir appeared on Spike TV’s MMA Live Uncensored last night and said he’d probably be upset if the UFC picked Velasquez or Hunt to replace Overeem:

I mean, obviously I’d feel a little slighted. But both those guys are great fighters. I would never be mad at them for taking advantage of the situation. Would I be angry? Of course. I wouldn’t wanna be at my house on the night that’s announced. I would not be a happy individual. I would probably just stay away from my house for a couple of days.

Mir is the most credible challenger, and he’s also going to sell the fight to the mainstream audience better than any of the other selections. Velasquez was knocked out quickly by dos Santos the last time around, so there won’t be much interest in that fight unless he picks up a win. 

And Hunt really isn’t a challenger. He hasn’t earned it in the cage, at least not yet. And despite the Internet and their love for all things Hunt, the vast majority of casual MMA fans would likely opt to hit the town on May 26th instead of sticking around the house and buying the pay-per-view. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com