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[Sakara=Excitement]

UFC 146: Fans Clamoring For Fedor Or Mark Hunt Vs. Junior Dos Santos - Bloody Elbow

Ever since yesterday's announcement that #1 Heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem had failed a pre-fight drug test and likely won't be facing champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, speculation as to possible substitutes for Overeem has been rampant.

Frank Mir, the #4 ranked heavy on the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings, seems the most likely substitute as he's riding a 3 fight win-streak and has never lost to JDS. He was also already training to fight on the UFC 146 card against former champ Cain Velasquez. Fabricio Werdum, ranked #4 is another possibility although a distant one. Werdum lost to JDS back in 2008 at UFC 90.

But the fans seem even more excited about two less-likely possibilities: Mark Hunt and Fedor Emelianenko.

Thomas Myers makes the case for "The Last Emperor" at MMA Mania:

(Dana) needs to switch gears on the fly -- a familiar, albeit refined talent at this point -- and again book a match up that will "blow the fucking minds" of fight fans and help them forget that Overeem was even his first choice to co-headline such a significant event.

Frank Mir, the most logical option, isn't going to do that. Josh Barnett is stuck in Strikeforce, and even if he was available, his steroids skeletons are too spooky under the extenuating circumstances. Dan Henderson -- who is sitting around just waiting for meaningful fights -- would be a mistake on so many levels.

Enter the wily wildcard: Fedor Emelianenko.

Sure, Emelianenko doesn't deserve the opportunity based on his most recent body of work. Knocking out Satoshi Ishii and decisioning Jeff Monson are not major accomplishments for a man of his esteemed caliber. Nonetheless, his legendary body of work, as well as his personal history with the UFC and White, prove otherwise.

The Bloody Elbow community is leading the charge to give Mark Hunt, a most unlikely title contender given his 8-7 career record, the title shot.

Mountaineers101 makes the case:

In my humble opinion, this is the most exciting option for the UFC heavyweight strap. Frank Mir doesn't have a prayer against dos Santos and is usually a contender with a win or two over so-so competition after losing a bout. Cain Velasquez just lost to dos Santos and needs another win or two to prove himself.

So really, who else does that leave us? Mark Hunt!

If you are against it, that is understandable. Frank Mir can be the more logical choice. But to suggest that Mark Hunt doesn't have a shot against dos Santos and that his three-fight winning streak has been replicated by many in the shallow pool that is the UFC's heavyweight division is laughable.

Regardless, if you can't do it for the love of Mark Hunt, do it for the social media experiment that it is. This has been an interesting trip that has even landed us on Yahoo. That is really something special and shows that we have made a dent in the proverbial armor of social media. Hopefully Dana is a man of his word and pays attention to the going ons of Twitter and MMA internet communities.

Mike Chiapetta set the odds for each of the possible challengers for JDS at UFC 146:

The Likely Pick: Frank Mir
Odds: 2:1

The Darkhorse: Fabricio Werdum
Odds: 4-1

Unlikely: Cain Velasquez
Odds: 8-1

The Longshots

Mark Hunt
Odds: 50-1

Josh Barnett or Daniel Cormier
Odds: 100-1

Fedor Emelianenko
Odds: 100,000-1

[Lesnar_FTW]

I don't believe for a second that Mark Hunt should get it. He'll have to win a few more fights to get consideration for a title shot. Bottom line, Mir is the most logical choice to replace AO. I like Fedor too, but he will not ever be in the UFC and even if he were to he would have to win at least once or twice to get a shot imo. If Fedor were to get the shot he'd be hopping over Silva and Werdum whom are both on the card and also are recent losses for Fedor.

[RearNakedStroke]

Fedor vs JDS? More like Fedor vs Struve after they shuffle the card around.

[dbader08]

Mir is the most logical choice, and I'd pick him to get the shot over hunt, just based on that...but imo Hunt would have a better shot at beating JDS.

[kingrobert]

JDS vs Hunt would be an amazing standup fight. Id love to see that fight but Hunt isnt anywhere near a title shot. Mir vs JDS should happen. While I agree that Mir probably wont win its really stupid to say a 2 time champ doesnt have a chance like they did in the article.

[Kimbo> Rampage]

Fedor is still leaps and bounds ahead of hunt. He is still as dangerous as just about anyone. He would have a better chance against JDS.

I doubt that would happen though. Can you imagine the UFC agreeing to co-promote with M1...

[Masscore]

Perosonally I think Werdum should get the shot. Seeing his wins over Fedor, Silva and Nelson in 3 out of his last 4 bouts should be enough. Plus he could have been given the nod over Overeem but lets just all forget that fight ever happened.

[Repenter]

Originally Posted by RearNakedStroke

Fedor vs JDS? More like Fedor vs Struve after they shuffle the card around.

oh jesus, how much do you hate struve?

JDS would be able to get hunt down and sub him without too much trouble, but even he shouldn't attempt to stand in that fight. carwin tagged him a couple times, with shots that hunt would have knocked anyone out with.

[Kimbo> Rampage]

From JDS's perspective beating werdum again doesnt do much for him. Mir is a name HW that JDS hasnt fought yet. He would like to get revenge for Nog... Plus Mir is a more Dangerous opponent than Werdum. Werdum has improved his standup a lot, it is becoming more technically sound, but Mir has big power to add to his standup.

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by bloodyelbow hack writer

Frank Mir, the #4 ranked heavy on the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings, seems the most likely substitute as he's riding a 3 fight win-streak and has never lost to JDS. He was also already training to fight on the UFC 146 card against former champ Cain Velasquez. Fabricio Werdum, ranked #4...

So they're both ranked #4?

Or is Werdum ranked at 4, and Mir ranked at 5? hmmm...that seems to be the case...

Thanks once again, bloodyelbow, for sucking up the internet with hack writing. Can't even get the facts in your lead paragraph correct?

Originally Posted by Lesnar_FTW

I don't believe for a second that Mark Hunt should get it.

You do realize that Hunt has accomplished more in the UFC than lesnar did before brock got his shot, right?

Hell, even Fedor's recent resume is better than brock's was before lesnar got his shot.

Originally Posted by Masscore

Perosonally I think Werdum should get the shot. Seeing his wins over Fedor, Silva and Nelson in 3 out of his last 4 bouts should be enough. Plus he could have been given the nod over Overeem but lets just all forget that fight ever happened.

It should go to Werdum, but I don't think they'll do it, because it's not just not a great back story. It wasn't that long ago where dana fanboys were referring to Werdum as a guy who "was cut from the UFC." It would be easier to hype Mir, who some fans are still convinced is the #1 grappler at HW.

By the way, I agree that Werdum should have won the decision against AO.

Originally Posted by rampage9712

From JDS's perspective beating werdum again doesnt do much for him. Mir is a name HW that JDS hasnt fought yet. He would like to get revenge for Nog...

Yes, to all points.

Plus Mir is a more Dangerous opponent than Werdum.

No. Just no.

rh