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Mir vs Carwin for Interim title at UFC 111 in New Jersey?

6K views 108 replies 52 participants last post by  Spec0688 
#1 ·
http://mmajunkie.com/news/17229/sha...rim-heavyweight-title-at-ufc-111-in-march.mma

While UFC president Dana White recently said the status of UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar would be decided in the next four to six weeks, things are apparently progressing much faster.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the organization that the UFC is targeting an interim heavyweight title matchup between top contender Shane Carwin and former UFC champion Frank Mir.

If both parties agree, the contest may take place at the increasingly attractive UFC 111 event on March 27 in Newark, N.J.

Carwin has been waiting patiently on the sidelines in recent months while current champion Brock Lesnar looks to rehabilitate from a case of diverticulitis as well as potential additional issues that the the champion and White have been reluctant to divulge.

While Carwin has waited through the cancellations of two different fight dates, when the potential of a matchup with Mir was brought up in recent days, he was quick to agree to the thought.

"Mir is a multiple-time champion who has been counted out more [than] Mike Tyson to only find himself right back at the top," Carwin wrote on his official website. "He is a legend of the sport, and I would be honored to fight him."

He may now get that chance.

Mir had recently found himself among the heavyweight division's second-tier of fighters, but an impressive win over French kickboxer Cheick Kongo left an impression in many fans' minds.

While Mir wasn't sure exactly what his status was following the win, the former champ admitted the pressure was on him to prove he belonged among the division's elite.

"I really felt that I had to come out there and decisively smash (Kongo) to make a statement," he said. "If I had of went out there and won a three-round decision against Cheick Kongo, I don't believe that would have elevated my status."

That status may now find him in an intriguing matchup for an interim belt and a date that both Carwin and Mir hope for: a future bout with Lesnar.

For complete coverage of UFC 111 and other future cards, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
 
#2 ·
I think that Mir will take this. I think that he will be alright on his feet and if it goes to the ground he will rip off one of Carwin's limbs.

I am not a big fan of either fighter, but this fight does interest me! And Frank Mir sure is getting a lot of title shots lately. He got Nog for the interim, Lesnar for the unification, now Carwin for an interim, and if he wins it will be Lesnar for the unification again.
 
#3 ·
Great fight for both guys. We will find out if Carwin is the real deal and see how well Mir does with another big wrestler. Mir has the advantage everywhere except for wrestling but Carwin does possess some serious power in his hands and can catch people off guard with it. Im pretty excited for this one.
 
#5 ·
I think Mir is more than deserving for a shot at the interim belt. There are so many guys that "could be" or are "supposed to be" the next great HW. Mir on the other hand is a former champion who lost to the current champion. His fight against Kongo proved that he is in top form again. The winner of Nog/Cain would than have a shot at the interim belt if Brock is still on the shelve (which I think he very well will be). That only leaves JDS on the outside looking in, who ha a match at 108 with Yvel. I think Mir beats Carwin, so in a perfect world, Nog will beat Cain to set up Mir/Nog II and put all of those staph infection theories to rest.
 
#8 ·
JDS is fighting Yvel at 108, Nog is fighting Cain at 110. Therefore Carwin/Mir makes perfect sense. Not a business decision just a scheduling decision. 5 of the 6 fighters could be fighting for the interim belt in theory, all IMO are worthy of the shot and this setup in the next 4 PPV's helps sort out some of the HWs.
 
#10 ·
Shanes got some heavy hands and tight compact punches.

Mirs boxing is impressive, but He should only engage until he can take Carwin down here.
 
#16 ·
wow, I love both these fighters, I had either of them capable of getting the belt away from brock, but i like mir a bit more. However, in carwin he's dealing with a big wrestler who's also a bjj purple belt (i think), outside of the ufc carwin has plenty subs, not that i think he will sub mir, but i do think if he gets it on the ground he'll be much harder for mir to sub, and if he gets on top, it could be the end of mir's night especially with his GnP. now standing we know carwin has raw power, but mir seems to have picked up a good stand up game, so I don't know who to give the edge to there. it will be a very intresting match up, and i'm seriously thinking of taking the trip to the US to watch it. who ever wins i'll be happy and sad at the same time
 
#17 ·
This works out well for Brock.

He's done nothing but pound on Mir in their two fights but Carwin actually poses a threat to beat Brock on the feet and KO him... however I feel Mir is a better striker than Carwin and on the ground and is a bad matchup for Carwin.

Suffice to say, Brock will probably luck out and get Mir again.
 
#18 ·
I totally agree i just don't see Frank knocking Shane out like i see Shane knocking Frank out... But then again i didn't see Kongo getting knocked down from his punches ether, so i have no clue what ether fighter will bring to the table, i have some faith in Shanes wrestling but i never saw he wrestling against someone as good on the ground as Mir, should be interesting i just hope this fight doesnt give a Interm belt
 
#20 · (Edited)
No way in hell does Mir deserve a title shot at this point in time, Kongo wasn't exactly at the top of the ladder coming into that fight. Dos Santos and Cain are both infinitely more deserving, not to mention Nogueira beat Randy Couture after losing his title so his 1 win after losing the belt is at least as impressive as Mir's imo, I just don't understand why the UFC wants to give Mir the shot here, it's completely outta nowhere.


As for the fight if it happened, I see Mir getting KO'd. Mir's chin has never been stellar and Carwin's hands are just completely devastating, it's only going to take 1 shot to kock Mir out and I don't see Mir getting this fight to the ground.
 
#56 ·
I don't know how you guys can keep saying that Cain deserves it more than Mir,,, most of you guys are comparing alot,, well lets compare,, Cain looked like a monkey *&%*ing a football againist Kongo,, Mir knocked him down and sub'd him in a minute<<< +1 for Mir... Has Carwin fought Nog, Lesnar, etc,etc,, NO,,,,,, Mir beat Nog last year(yeh I know Nog had herpes or what ever you guys use as a excuse :sarcastic12:),,, Dos Santos beat a broke down Mirko Crocop his last fight,, so I don't see how some of you guys can argue about the Mir vs. Carwin,, :confused02:
 
#21 ·
i dont care who wins im on the fence with both fighters Mir has a talkin problem tho but hey Shane is a tool i just want a good fight because we may not see Brock for a few more months atleast so A. lets get started on this interim belt and get some good match ups...because frankly even tho i enjoyed tuf 10 i want to see some real HW fights
 
#23 ·
what suprises me is that carwin is gettin the push when there are wheeey more talented ppl (like cain velasquez) than both of these 2!
 
#25 ·
Either guy against Brock for the title is great. But at this point, why does Mir get a shot at Carwin for the title? I just see this as Mir's record getting "padded" ( He is earning the wins, just saying, it's not world class competition he's beating besides dead Nog.)

That's just a problem it looks like I'll have to deal with... Not only has Mir not submitted anyone hard to submit in MMA

I guess this matchup just doesn't intrigue me at all yet :( Down the road It would have. I was looking more forward to Kongo vs Mir to be honest.

IF this is for a title SHOT, then I like it! But the Interim title thing has diluted the UFC before, and it will just do it again.

I REALLY wish Brock would vacate the title, so that #1 there would be less rush to get him back, therefore also relieving the insane pressure that is likely on him right now. and #2, so there would be NO MORE INTERIM.
 
#26 ·
I dont know that Mir really deserves a shot at any kind of heavyweight strap at the moment, but Carwin definetely doesnt so it makes me happy to see him have to face some real competition before he gets an actual shot. I really hope that Brock actually comes back soon so that we can get back to having an actual champion and sort this mess out. Brock being out of the mix right now is going to end up knocking some deserivng guys out of title contention before they get there shot. Cain and JDS already deserve shots at the title, but they are both about to face some very tough competition. In my opinion the JDS/Yvel fight is a toss up and I might even lean towards Yvel. The Cain/Nog fight is tough to call, but I would have to favor Nog based upon experience and overall skill. I do not want to see Cain and JDS sent to the back of the line, but I think that is very likely what is about to happen.
 
#30 ·
Haha so true.

Besides if Lesnar is out for a long time you know the belt will be defended and that's when Nog/Cain comes in.
 
#31 · (Edited)
Out of the 3 up and comers Cain, JDS and Carwin, Carwin is the LEAST deserving of a title shot, his only top 20 win wasnt that impressive compared to Cain dismantling Kongo and Rothwell or JDS flash KOing Werdum and stopping Cro Cop (not that impressive tbh but he did finish it).

Carwin got his nose smashed and taken down and altho the power is very impressive i dont think his standup is, Mirs is better. On the ground Mir will be looking to prove he can handle a bigger man and it would give him confidence if he fought Brock in the future, which seems likely. Only thing is, Shane is no Brock, Brock relies on his wrestling all the time and it dominates, Shane doesnt do that as often and isnt nearly as fast or explosive with the TDs. Speed is the biggest difference between Shane and Brock and despite what ppl say that Brock is "just big" it's the speed that kills you 1st, then the size.

I think alot of the reasoning behind Carwins push is age, he doesnt have long and JDS and Cain will both be around for quite awhile imo. I dont think marketability is the reason behind this push, Cain is prob more marketable, it has alot to do with age and ppl wanted Brock to face a guy his own size and Carwin is one of the only guys that fits the bill (Mir does now too imo). So they promised Shane this undeserved title shot based on age and him matching up physically to Brock but since Brock pulled out and everybody else is busy i guess this makes sense.
 
#33 ·
Why is it such a big deal if the winner gets awarded the interim belt? Its not the REAL belt. All they're really getting is a guaranteed shot at the belt when Brock gets back. Should Brock not make a speedy return they will be forced to defend their title shot to Nog or Cain. As far as I'm concerned, nobody right now really deserves the title in these upcoming fights but if there's going to be an interim belt they might as well make it convenient for their fight schedule.
 
#35 ·
You give a lot of reasons to not bother with an interim title. Why make it more complicated than it needs to be? Winner gets a title shot, they are not a champion.

I guess they just love setting up the Undisputed Championship PPVs. In MY opinion, it just dilutes the roster, and the product, to have interim champions when a guy is out for this long.

If Brock is coming back soon enough to not forfeit the title, then why is there an Interim champion? It makes NO sense.

If Brock is out for so long that we need an interim champion, then he should forfeit the title, like Mir had to.

Why don't we just make an Interim MW champ when Anderson wants to fight LHW too?!?!?!?!

BADABINGBADABOOM
 
#34 ·
I like the fight. I'm backing Mir to get the win as well. I think his stand-up and boxing is far better than Carwins although Carwin probably has the edge in power (though with Mir's extra 20lbs of weight, striking training and strength + conditioning programme there's every chance he could be as powerful) and I don't see Carwin hanging with Mir on the ground, if it goes there. He won't be able to do a Brock and dominate Mir, and would probably end up getting subbed. Outside punchers chance I don't see how Carwin can win. Mir's far more skilled AFAIC.

If it is held at UFC 111 that's shaping up to be a stacked card, with GSP vs Dan Hardy already as good as confirmed for the event. There's talk of Thiago Alves fighting at this event as well, I like. Really excited for UFC 110 and 111, definitely make up for the fairly weak 108 and 109 cards.
 
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