Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir are two of the biggest stars in the heavyweight division, but they could be battling for their UFC lives at UFC 169 on Saturday.
In his UFC debut, Overeem established himself as a top contender by steamrolling former cham…
Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir are two of the biggest stars in the heavyweight division, but they could be battling for their UFC lives at UFC 169 on Saturday.
In his UFC debut, Overeem established himself as a top contender by steamrolling former champion Brock Lesnar. However, the former Strikeforce titleholder has not won since then, losing to Antonio Silva and Travis Browne along the way.
Meanwhile, Mir has been slumping since his memorable submission win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That victory earned him a title shot, which resulted in a knockout loss to Junior dos Santos. Mir followed that up with additional defeats against Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett.
With this pivotal heavyweight clash approaching, here is a look at how Overeem and Mir match up in all areas.
UFC 169 will hit the Prudential Center this weekend in Newark, New Jersey with two title fights.
Renan Barao defends the UFC Bantamweight Championship against No. 1-ranked Urijah Faber, and UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo defends against No. 2-ran…
UFC 169 will hit the Prudential Center this weekend in Newark, New Jersey with two title fights.
Renan Barao defends the UFC Bantamweight Championship against No. 1-ranked Urijah Faber, and UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo defends against No. 2-ranked Ricardo Lamas in the evening’s two big bouts.
10 other bouts fill out the UFC 169 fight card on Super Bowl weekend.
Bleacher Report will have full coverage of the event all weekend long.
Weigh-In Results
UFC Bantamweight Championship: Renan Barão (135) vs. Urijah Faber (134.5)
UFC Featherweight Championship: José Aldo (145) vs. Ricardo Lamas (144.5)
To fully appreciate Jose Aldo, you had to see him in the WEC.
As he prepares to meet heavy underdog Ricardo Lamas on Saturday at UFC 169, while rumors of a summer superfight with Anthony Pettis swirl, it’s impossible to assess his time as the UFC…
To fully appreciate Jose Aldo, you had to see him in the WEC.
As he prepares to meet heavy underdog Ricardo Lamas on Saturday at UFC 169, while rumors of a summer superfight with Anthony Pettis swirl, it’s impossible to assess his time as the UFC featherweight kingpin without a little historical perspective.
Make no mistake: Aldo has been great in the Octagon, but to know him at his full potential, you had to witness his eight-fight rise through the UFC’s kid brother organization from 2008-2010.
You had to watch him gnaw through the legs of guys like Alexandre Franca Nogueira, Jonathan Brookins and Urijah Faber with his lashing kicks. You had to see him counter Rolando Perez’s jab with a crushing knee at WEC 38, flurry on Chris Mickle at WEC 39 or suspend the laws of gravity to score his double flying-knee knockout of Cub Swanson at WEC 41.
Sorry to wax nostalgic, but you just had to be there.
If you were, then you understood that by the time the UFC absorbed the WEC at the start of 2011, Aldo was among the biggest spoils. The fight company anointed him its inaugural 145-pound champion, and it felt as though he was poised to become a breakout star.
Not just in our little corner of the world, either. With his fearsome blend of speed and power, his superb takedown defense and his knack for highlight-reel finishes, he appeared destined to become a mainstay on SportsCenter’s Top Plays.
At the risk of drifting too far into hyperbole, it seemed like Aldo had at least an outside chance of becoming the UFC’s answer to Manny Pacquiao—an immense pay-per-view draw and the guy who would finally convince the world that MMA’s lightest weight classes were also its best.
And this is where things get tricky.
Aldo has marched to a 5-0 record in the Octagon and—in the void left behind by Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre—has become the consensus No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. All told, it’s been nearly eight years since he lost a fight.
It seems silly—impossible, even—to say that’s not good enough.
Yet nearly three years in, crossover success hasn’t materialized. If anything, Aldo has faded into the scenery a bit, slowed by injury and surrounded by other stars in the UFC’s deep talent pool.
The jaw-dropping finishes that typified his early career (when he amassed 15 stoppages in 18 wins) haven’t been as abundant in the Octagon, and three of his five bouts in the big show have gone the distance.
His explosive KO of Chad Mendes at UFC 142 was nice but was marred by an egregious fence-grab 49 seconds before the end. Aldo’s other lone stoppage—of Chan Sung Jung at UFC 163—came only when Jung suffered a shoulder injury after three-and-a-half fairly tepid rounds.
Aldo gassed badly down the stretch against Mark Hominick at UFC 129, and though he escaped with a unanimous-decision win, questions about his cardio lingered. Likewise, his scorecard victories over former lightweights Kenny Florian and Frankie Edgar were clear-cut but far from wipeouts.
Amid all of it, there have been issues with his health. A neck ailment delayed his UFC debut and continued to hamper him following the Hominick fight. More recently, foot injuries forced him out of a scheduled meeting with Erik Koch and sidelined him again in the wake of the Jung bout last August.
Granted, there have been streaks of brilliance. Witness Aldo stuffing Mendes’ early takedown attempts, making a show of slipping Hominick’s punches in the second round and firing off a spinning kick/flying knee combo to end the first round against Jung.
It would be a grave exaggeration to say he has failed, but he also hasn’t quite lived up to the sky-high expectations set by his reign of terror in the WEC. Perhaps that’s the natural order of things now that he’s a few years older (still just 27) and competing in a featherweight class that is clogged with stiffer competition.
Still, you can’t blame hardcore fans if they pine for the days when Aldo looked a generation ahead of the rest.
This weekend, he’ll be close to a 7-to-1 favorite over Lamas. They’ll play second fiddle to Renan Barao and Faber on what might turn out to be one of the UFC’s lowest-selling PPVs of the year, but the matchup could be a good chance for Aldo to recapture a bit of that youthful spark.
Afterward, his future appears uncertain. UFC president Dana White said on Thursday that a Pettis vs. Aldo superfight was not a sure thing but mentioned he’d “green light” it if Aldo would agree to vacate the 145-pound title, per Chuck Mindenhall of MMA Fighting.
White added: “He’s had the belt forever, he’d fought everybody and he should just drop the belt and move up to 55 and take on Pettis. It would be awesome.”
The prospect of Aldo at lightweight is enticing, especially considering that division’s current injury-related vacuum at the top. Matching his style against Pettis’ high-octane offense would be a surefire draw and a fight seemingly impossible to predict.
It would be far and away the best opportunity of Aldo’s career. He would have the chance to be a bigger star at lightweight, both literally and figuratively, and moving up would allow him to challenge for No. 1 pound-for-pound honors. He might even finally take a few baby steps toward being the star we thought he could be a few years ago.
But it would be a defeat for featherweights. The lightest weight classes have come a long way since joining the UFC, but the loss of the division’s dominant champion would be a setback for the marketability of 145 pounds.
Once, when he was the class of the WEC, it felt as though Aldo had the skills to elevate the entire featherweight division. Now, it seems like in order to elevate his own star, he’ll be forced to leave for a bigger pond.
Why do I cringe? Because I fear what the future holds for both of these men. Mir is coming off of three losses, including two by violent TKOs. Overeem is in a similar boat, having been put to sleep in his last two fights. When you look further back, even more red flags can be found. Out of the eight losses that appear on Frank Mir’s MMA record, seven have been by some form of knockout. It gets even worse for Alistair, who has lost by KO or TKO 11 times between his MMA and kickboxing careers.
Based on what we now know about head trauma in MMA, it’s safe to assume that both fighters have suffered at least some level of brain injury, which means they could be in for an incredibly wide array of consequences. Depending on the area of trauma and severity, either fighter could suffer cognitive, physiological, emotional, psychological, and behavioral changes. Basic physical functions like hand-eye coordination can also be affected, making those devastating strikes even harder to avoid. And the damage does not end there.
(The Mir-Overeem preview segment from ‘Countdown to UFC 169′. Props: YouTube.com/UFC)
Why do I cringe? Because I fear what the future holds for both of these men. Mir is coming off of three losses, including two by violent TKOs. Overeem is in a similar boat, having been put to sleep in his last two fights. When you look further back, even more red flags can be found. Out of the eight losses that appear on Frank Mir’s MMA record, seven have been by some form of knockout. It gets even worse for Alistair, who has lost by KO or TKO 11 times between his MMA and kickboxing careers.
Based on what we now know about head trauma in MMA, it’s safe to assume that both fighters have suffered at least some level of brain injury, which means they could be in for an incredibly wide array of consequences. Depending on the area of trauma and severity, either fighter could suffer cognitive, physiological, emotional, psychological, and behavioral changes. Basic physical functions like hand-eye coordination can also be affected, making those devastating strikes even harder to avoid. And the damage does not end there.
Traumatic Brain Injuries have also been linked to a disruption in the ability to create normal levels of hormones like testosterone, and growth hormone. In some cases TBI patients are treated with hormone replacement therapy, and experience positive results. Perhaps this is a factor in both Mir and Overeem having a therapeutic exemption for TRT.
If this were the reason for Mir and Overeem’s hormonal issues — which hasn’t been verified, but is certainly possible — should either of these men be fighting, let alone each other? I am not a professional fighter nor a doctor, but it doesn’t take an expert to understand that if your brain is unable to produce the proper amount of chemicals for you to function normally, due to past damage, you should not be taking part in the same activity that caused the trauma in the first place.
So when do you draw the line, and how many knockout losses is too many? There’s no definite answer, and since every athlete is different, any hard-and-fast rule would seem arbitrary. Should athletic commissions give closer attention and testing to a combatant who has been knocked out five times? If knockouts persist, perhaps a long-term suspension should be handed out. It can’t be safe to keep competing as a fighter after you’ve had your lights turned off ten times — and yet Alistair Overeem is appearing on a UFC pay-per-view this weekend carrying that alarming history.
Certainly someone like Overeem, who suffered his second knockout loss in six months when he was KO’d by Travis Browne in August, would benefit from a long-term suspension. Frank Mir, whose brain had just over a year of rest between his TKO losses to Josh Barnett and Junior Dos Santos, seems to be cutting it close as well.
Brain injuries are not fully understood, but we know that they do not heal like a broken bone, or a torn muscle. Such injuries can take several months or years to heal, in some cases they never do, and in the case of some 50,000 people, they result in death. I just don’t want to see either of these men end up like Muhammad Ali, Freddie Roach, countless NFL players, or Chris Benoit.
In the end, two men who have been knocked out a combined 18 times will attempt to devastatingly punch, kick, knee and elbow each other in the head until the other can no longer take it — two men so unhealthy that they need TRT to function. Will I watch? Sure, with the hope that athletic commissions will begin looking more closely at the effects of brain trauma, and that neurological science continues to reveal how much head trauma is too much.
This weekend originally presented an opportunity that Renan Barao had been waiting over a year to see come to light.
After winning and then defending the interim bantamweight title on two occasions, the Brazilian phenom was finally going to get the cha…
This weekend originally presented an opportunity that Renan Barao had been waiting over a year to see come to light.
After winning and then defending the interim bantamweight title on two occasions, the Brazilian phenom was finally going to get the chance to square off with longtime titleholder Dominick Cruz to determine who would be the true champion of the 135-pound division.
Their fight was figured to be a wild affair filled with high-paced action until one of them broke, but how things actually turned out was the furthest thing from a chaotic five-round battle. In the weeks leading up to the fight, Cruz suffered yet another injury and was officially stripped of his title, which made Barao the official undisputed champion of the division.
“On one hand I was very happy because I became the official bantamweight champion,” Barao told Bleacher Report. “But on the other hand it was sad because I never want to see someone’s career halted because of an injury. As for this fight I have coming up with Faber, it doesn’t bother me. I always stay in shape, and I’m prepared to fight anyone that comes my way. Now it is going to be Faber, and I’m ready for that fight.”
Barao had no time for celebration because the UFC tapped a replacement in Urijah Faber to fill Cruz’s slot in the main event of UFC 169 on Feb. 1. The two fighters are no stranger to each other as Barao used his speed and distance to outpoint “The California Kid” in their initial meeting at UFC 149 in July 2012.
In the aftermath of his victory over Faber, the Nova Uniao product picked up two more victories to put his current unbeaten streak at a lofty 31 consecutive victories. Meanwhile, the Team Alpha Male leader has experienced a resurgence of his own as he ripped off four impressive victories in 2013, including a blistering defeat of former title challenger Michael McDonald in his last outing at UFC on Fox 9 in Sacramento.
Demolishing “Mayday” had Faber sitting on the perch of another title opportunity, and when Cruz once again fell by the wayside, he stepped up without hesitation to face Barao. While the 26-year-old Brazilian champion is familiar with what Faber brings to the table, he believes the former WEC champion presents more of a threat than his previously scheduled opponent.
“Faber is a much better fighter than he was before,” he said. “He’s improved a lot in his stand-up game. He’s made some changes in his rhythm, but I’m on to it and I will be one step ahead of him in this fight just like I was the last time.
“In the first fight I wanted to get a good grasp on the distance between us, and then once I found it, I could impose my will. This time around it is going to be the same thing. Faber is going to try to do some things to throw me off, but ultimately a fighter always goes back to what is the most comfortable for them. Once things settle down, it will be just like the first fight, and I will be able to do the things I plan to do.”
While preparing for the biggest fight of his career, Barao wasn’t alone at Nova Uniao. The storied camp lead by Andre “Dede” Pederneiras also consisted of Barao’s friend and teammate Jose Aldo, who is preparing for a title fight of his own in Newark, N.J. To keep things lively around camp, Coach Pederneiras also brought in one of his original students—former two divisional champion and future Hall of Famer BJ Penn—to assist his fighters.
This made for an exciting camp and one that Barao believes has him ready for a great performance this Saturday night in Newark.
“This was the best camp of my life and Aldo’s life as well,” he said. “We knew our fights were big and important. A lot of important people came to help like BJ Penn and the Brazilian boxing champion. It was easily the best training camp I’ve ever had in my entire life.”
On Saturday night against a high-profile opponent like Faber, he will have a chance to not only showcase his personal skills but bring the eyes of MMA fans to his division. The UFC fanbase has historically resisted giving its full attention to bouts below the 155-pound limit, but Barao and Aldo have the potential to flip that stigma.
Barao knows what is on the line against Faber, and if he does the job he knows he can do, he will hear the words he’s been waiting to hear for the better part of the last two years when Bruce Buffer announces him as the undisputed champion of the bantamweight division.
“I haven’t thought much about that moment because I’ve been so focused on the fight,” he said. “But when I do get my hand raised and that belt is put around my waist as the undisputed champion, it will be one of the greatest moments of my life. There is no pressure because I’ve worked very hard for this, and it is going to be an amazing feeling.
“I want to be the start this division needs to get more recognition. I train very hard to put on a great show for the fans, and I love getting out there and fighting for them. I want people to be excited to watch me fight. The more people enjoy watching me fight, the more attention it will bring this division.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Most UFC pay-per-views boast only one championship fight, but UFC 169 on Saturday, Feb. 1 features two marquee title bouts and a highly anticipated heavyweight matchup.
Not only is bantamweight champion Renan Barao taking on veteran Urijah Faber for t…
Most UFC pay-per-views boast only one championship fight, but UFC 169 on Saturday, Feb. 1 features two marquee title bouts and a highly anticipated heavyweight matchup.
Not only is bantamweight champion RenanBarao taking on veteran Urijah Faber for the bantamweight title, but featherweight champion Jose Aldo is also defending his belt against Ricardo Lamas.
Add the heavyweight tilt, which features Alistair Overeem going head-to-head with Frank Mir for a chance at redemption, and this Saturday’s PPV is shaping up to be unforgettable.
Here is all the vital viewing and betting information for UFC 169 and the bets each gambler must take.
This is the bet that will pay off the least if you do win, but there is little doubt in most experts’ minds that champion Jose Aldo (23-1) will take down Ricardo Lamas in convincing fashion (13-2).
This is the safest wager of the entire PPV.
Aldo is one of the greatest fighters in the history of the division and one of the pound-for-pound toughest men in the sport today. With seven straight title defenses and 16 consecutive victories, no one can match his intensity, speed and power.
Lamas is a talented fighter, but he is overmatched and outclassed.
While Aldo has faced the best in the sport time and time again, proving to the doubters at every turn that he is the best in the sport right now, Lamas has taken a much easier route to this point, beating journeymen HatsuHioki and Erik Koch to earn this shot.
Betting on Aldo won’t pay a huge return, but it’s the biggest lock of the PPV.
Risk Worth the Reward: Frank Mir (+250)
There is no doubt that Alistair Overeem should win this fight—I am picking him to steal the victory—but this could be the perfect storm that rewards a bettor with a big return if an upset occurs.
As we have seen from watching Overeem’s previous fights, an upset is always possible.
Overeem was one of the most highly touted fighters in UFC history, but after his victory over Brock Lesnar, the star fell off the map. Two straight knockout losses have shaken Overeem’s confidence, and the company’s confidence in his ability is waning.
Mir is a tough-chinned fighter who keeps taking punishment and dishing it out himself. Overeem will bring his unique mix of striking and kicks, but if Mir can withstand the storm and take the fight to the ground, he will be able to tire out his challenger.
As seen against Antonio Silva and Travis Browne, Overeem is susceptible to knockouts when winded.
Overeem should take the win, but this is an educated risk that could pay off big.
*All stats via UFC.com. Betting info via Bovada.lv.
To fully appreciate