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UFC 111's Mir says Carwin more dangerous than Lesnar, OK if Velasquez gets first crack | MMAjunkie.com

After splitting a pair of bouts with UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, former title holder Frank Mir has made little effort to hide his current motivation.

As such, some have labeled Mir a "stalker" because of his singular focus on a rubber match with the champ.

Nevertheless, Mir carries on in search of facing Lesnar once again. But standing in his way at UFC 111 is undefeated challenger Shane Carwin, who Mir says may actually be a tougher opponent.

"I think he's very similar to Brock Lesnar," Mir told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com). "He's somebody that's strong, and he's a good wrestler. But I think that Carwin, in a lot of ways, is actually more dangerous for me."

The similarities between Carwin and Lesnar are evident with just a cursory glance. The two massive wrestlers have changed the face of the heavyweight division in short order with their powerful builds and overwhelming strength.

But Mir believes Carwin possesses something extra.

"Brock and Carwin are both better wrestlers than I am," Mir said. "Most likely, they'll both be able to take me down. Most likely, they'll both be able to win the fight if I get stuck against the cage on my back with my head jammed up. But with that being said, with Lesnar, on my feet, I have no real anxiety about standing there and boxing. He's knocked people over because he clubs people with his hands, but he's not really a knockout artist. Carwin has actually knocked people out.

"In a fight with Lesnar, the goal is to keep it on the feet, and I'll win the fight. With Carwin, if I say just keep it on my feet and I fall asleep on him while looking for the shot, I can easily go to sleep if I get caught. He's shown the ability to knock people out. To me, he's a dual threat."

With the interim title on the line in the March 27 matchup, an eventual shot at the champ hangs in the balance. But UFC president Dana White has said that a fight between the winner and Lesnar isn't a guarantee.

Top contender Cain Velasquez, who turned in an impressive performance against MMA legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in February, could leapfrog the newly crowned interim champ if injuries prove a factor.

Mir once again stated his desire to face Lesnar but also said he would understand if he was forced to wait.

"The competitor in me wants to face Lesnar as soon as possible and be the first one in line," Mir said. "As far as if it worked out, I don't feel like holding the heavyweight division hostage. If after, if I'm victorious on March 27, and I had an injury that didn't allow me to fight, and Brock wants to take a risk to fight Cain first before he fights me, more power to him."

Mir admits he views Velasquez as a credible threat. In fact, he thinks Lesnar might feel the same way and should probably avoid that particular confrontation.

"I think [Velasquez] is a dangerous fight for [Lesnar]," Mir said. "I would be willing to bet that maybe he would be more comfortable waiting for me."

[maakshif]

I agree with what Mir is saying here, but he needs to stop talking and focus on the fight or he is going to get put to sleep by Carwin.

[QOTSA420]

I think Carwin has some fundemental striking issues. He looks very tense and uncomfortable standing, and I don't really see him giving Mir much of a threat in that area. He does have insane power but thats instantly negated if he cannot land anything, which I dont think he will. I also am hoping Frank learned something from his last outing with Brock, where he looked more like Rodney King then a MMA fighter, and does not allow himself to get easily controlled and mauled on the ground. If Mir comes in with the right mindset and strategy I feel like he will run circles around Shane, as long as he does not try slug it out with him.

[Xanatos]

Originally Posted by Rambo

It's not Mir's call to determine who Brock Lesnar decides to fight. I personally think that while Mir and Carwin fight eachother, Lesnar SHOULD BE FORCED to fight Cain Velasquez in the mean time before he fights the winner of Mir/Carwin. Lesnar needs to defend the title and act like a champion instead of ducking people.

his name is brock lesnar, not joe silva, he isn't ducking anybody.

[The Sword]

Originally Posted by Rambo

He is ducking. He faked sickness to avoid Shane Carwin. Why else would Lesnar suddenly get sick right when him and Carwin were going to fight? He gets sick and now hopes Mir beats Carwin so Lesnar doesn't have to risk getting his glass jaw smashed off his face by Carwin.

WOW! I hope your jokeing.

[Repenter]

well mir makes a lot of potential points here, but we'll see what happens at the end of this mini tourni. if he beats carwin and loses to brock again, i think he'll have a mental breakdown. then he'll get pregnant again and lost by GnP to marcelo garcia or something. yep.

[0mega1]

Originally Posted by Rambo

He is ducking. He faked sickness to avoid Shane Carwin. Why else would Lesnar suddenly get sick right when him and Carwin were going to fight? He gets sick and now hopes Mir beats Carwin so Lesnar doesn't have to risk getting his glass jaw smashed off his face by Carwin.

:headscratch: his glass jaw huh? when has he been knocked out?

as somebody already stated i hope ur joking... and if not let me be the first to say :
CONGRATS! ur a fucking idiot!

[GL Jeff]

For the amount of time Brock has been fighting, you cant say he isnt able to KO people. He put Randy on his ass with a glancing punch. And Literally knocked Heath head over heals. I think Mir wont win a rematch against Brock, Lesnar uses his strengths very well, smoother and GnP. As for Cain being a threat,sorry to say, not really. Cain is a very small HW compared to Brock, Carwin and Mir. While Cain did handle Kongo, how is a bigger HW, Kongo has no ground game,and Brock is easily a equal to Cain.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Suuuuuuurrrre Frank, he's much more dangerous that the NCAA Division 1 champion who throttled you like a child and made your face look like a catcher's mit. Frank's so so silly.

[The Sensational One]

Well it is good Rambo got banned cause clearly he had no idea what he was talking about and was just a complete and utter moron. As for Mir, ofcourse he is going to say Carwin is a bigger threat than Lesnar, he hates Lesnar, and even though Carwing really hasn't shown his superb wrestling skills(I know that he is a NCAA champion) transition over to mma like Brock has. Is Carwin more dangerous, maybe, he hasn't shown me anything other than heavy hands. Brock hasn't knocked people out like Carwin but has dropped Randy, Mir, Herring all supposed decent-good strikers. Im not saying Brock is above Carwin in striking and wrestling, i am saying i saw no evidence yet of Carwin successfully transitioning his wrestling into mma like Brock. Brock has shown me he has power and with a little tweaking can start knocking people out. Brock currently is the bigger threat.