UFC heavyweight Frank Mir is scheduled to face UFC champion, Junior dos Santos (JDS) at UFC 146, on Saturday, May 26th. I saw this quote from the UFC 146 press conference (May 24) on @DaveDoyleMMA's Twitter, Frank said, "I've never walked into a fight without being nervous and full of anxiety."
I believe that big, dangerous guys like Frank Mir enter the octagon nervous. Call it stage fright. Call it what any human being feels before being put to the test. It's a horrible feeling. Since he's already talking about it, it's a guarantee that Frank will be having that same experience as he makes his way out to the octagon to attempt to do damage to the heavy-handed Junior dos Santos.
I remember watching Mir walk out to the cage looking like he was under some kind of spell that made him look loopy. It was before one of the two fights that he lost--either to Shane Carwin at UFC 111 or to Brock Lesnar at UFC 100. I worried that he wouldn't wake up and get fierce (the way Diego Sanchez gets fierce). He didn't. Even a little bit of Diego's fierceness would have made a difference.
I wonder if that "zen walk" to the cage has anything to do with JDS saying that Frank "lacks heart".
"UFC Tonight" Crew Weighs In on JDS vs Mir
On the May 22 episode of "UFC Tonight" on Fuel TV, Kenny Florian gave his prediction on dos Santos vs Mir, "Right now I give the edge to dos Santos. What makes his striking so good is his footwork. I believe his striking is at such a high level. I think it's going to be very difficult for Frank Mir to get the take down...He is so fast as a heavyweight. The way he puts together his combinations, he doesn't just throw two punches. He throws six, seven, eight. He has an excellent hook. And that's why he is so dangerous."
Frank Mir fully intends to trade blows with JDS. He said, "Basically you have to go out there and fight back. You have to maneuver and try to nullify his jab. I'm going to start throwing down leather and see what happens."
Junior dos Santos is very clear about how he feels Frank Mir will perform during their fight. "Yeah, I've said that he's not a man. I've confirmed that. When he is in the moment in the fight, he is a monster, but when he leaves that moment in the fight, he can't escape that moment. He can't recover from that moment very well. He gives up very easily."
Frank Mir's response, "I think he saw moments in a fight that I didn't fight as hard as I could have -- I didn't fight back. But, of course, in my opinion, I disagree."
Junior Dos Santos "Frank Mir Is Not A Man", UFC Tonight video
UFC Hall of Famer, Randy Couture on Junior dos Santos vs Frank Mir, "At first glance, it looks like a classic match-up, the grappler versus the striker. Mir has some formidable striking, which allows him to engage with dos Santos. We've seen him knock out fighters. It has become a very strong part of his game. His conditioning has improved. He has the ability to neutralize dos Santos. So I give the edge to Mir."
Kenny believes that JDS will have difficulty with Mir on the ground, "It is his full commitment to his technique--every time he gets an arm or a leg, he's not just trying to submit you, he's trying to break you. It's basic, but it's very good. He's the best submission artist in the heavyweight division.
Mir's predictions on fight vs dos Santos: "I win by submission early in the first round."
dos Santos' predictions on fight vs. Mir: "Knockout in the second round."
UFC 146: Facebook Prelims 3:45 PM PT and FX Prelims 5 pm PT. Main Event 7 pm PT.
Heavyweight Division Rankings (over 205 pounds)
1. Junior Dos Santos (1)2. Cain Velasquez (2)
3. Frank Mir (4)
4. Daniel Cormier (7)
5. Fabricio Werdum (5)
6. Josh Barnett (3)
7. Shane Carwin (6)
8. Travis Browne (8)
9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (9)
10. Antonio Silva (10)
Source: UFC Tonight show notes, Sherdog.com, MMA fighter rankings,
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Cheryl Ragsdale started out boxing and has added kicks and BJJ so she can practice MMA. She trains with Keith Florian and UFC Fighter Kenny Florian at Florian Martial Arts - follow @thatgirlisfunny
