UFC News: Frank Mir toying with moving to light heavyweight
Image what the former Heavyweight champ Frank Mir (13-5) look like in the light Heavyweight division? Sounds farfetched but fans might actually get the chance to see it though, if things fall into place just right. The former champ last fought back in March at UFC 111 against undefeated knockout specialist Shane Carwin (12-0). The fight didn’t go as planned for Mir as he was knocked out in the first round ending his bid for a third fight with rival Brock Lesnar (5-1). Now Mir is left to pick up the pieces and figure out where to go next.
In a recent interview with mmafigs.com Mir stated he had “actually been toying with the idea of maybe going down a weight class”. Using the time off and watching what he eats Mir wants to see where his natural weight will land. Citing his light heavyweight training partners like Forrest Griffin Mir said “sometimes I stand next to Forrest and I think I’m in the wrong weight class.” Griffin typically walks around at roughly 230 lbs. before cutting down to the light heavyweight mark of 205 lbs. Mir didn’t mention a make or break number he’d need to achieve to push his idea into reality, but the 230 lbs. of Griffin should be about right.
In his previous Heavyweight fights up to his UFC 100 defeat to Lesnar, Mir would usually come into a fight weighing about 240 lbs. for weigh-ins. He then bulked up for the last two fights by extensively lifting weights to try and compete with the big boys at heavyweight that cut to make the 265 lbs max. Mir walking around at 280 is never going to be able to cut the weight needed to make 205, but at 240 lbs. with hard work it’s a real possibility. The hard work part will be key as Mir will need to push harder than ever to cut down to 205 lbs. and if he has what it takes is unknown.
The thought of Mir at light heavyweight is intriguing and would be open up some interesting matchups for Joe Silva and Dana White. At 205 Mir could actually fight Anderson Silva instead of talking about it knowing they are 2 weight classes away. What about Mir versus Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Chuck Liddell or Tito Ortiz, ok Ortiz not so much but thinking about it Mir against any of the top light heavyweight would be fun to watch. How would he do at the lower weight class is hard to say but with his much improved striking recently displayed and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt it hard to argue against.
Let not get are hopes up though and remember who we are talking about here, let a few of the pieces fall into places first….
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