Rumor: Mir will move to SF to face Cormier

[REDDzone]

This deserved its own thread. Mir apparently moving to strikeforce to fight Cormier.

Shocked by this. Nottt good for Mir imo, especially if he comes in fat. I still hate sending ufc guys over to a dead organization, but this makes sense if they want to build up Cormier and because DC would be coming over immediately after regardless. Although its rough to send a guy coming off a loss to fight the hw grand prix winner. That's Mir though, the guy would fight anyone anywhere anytime.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/7/25/31 ... um=twitter

[blkout]

I think Mir probably knows his long term future is as a high level gatekeeper, at least doing it this way he gets to headline shows while he fights these guys. God knows what his motivation behind it is, unless he just didn't like any of the people the UFC had lined up

[Cammo101]

Mir is a company man and this is good for business. I'm sure Dana is compensating him well for this one off in Strikeforce. I'd like to see them do something similar for Barnett.

The part I find funny is that Cormier vs. Mir is the co-main event and Melendez vs. Pat Healy is the main event.

[CPT]

Man, I'd actually love to see him fight Barnett if he's willing to take a fight in Strikeforce. Mir vs Cormier is cool and all, but Mir vs Barnett is a long time dream fight.

Wonder what this means for reports of certain SF guys being unable to move to the UFC.

[skflives]

Man, I'd actually love to see him fight Barnett if he's willing to take a fight in Strikeforce. Mir vs Cormier is cool and all, but Mir vs Barnett is a long time dream fight.

Wonder what this means for reports of certain SF guys being unable to move to the UFC.

This is cool and all but it still sucks they can't seem to do this for Gilbert Melendez.

[cowboyronnie]

Another long fight for Mir. 5 rounds? I really hope not. He won't be able to deal with Cormier's movement - it'll be a drawn-out punishment, Mir confounded, Cormier lighting him up.

[REDDzone]

There's no way this happens for any division outside of HW imo. I'd bet that they have DC locked up for the ufc afterwards already by the time this fight is signed. Barnett isn't committing to the ufc at all, so don't expect the same treatment for him unless the ufc decides they want to keep him and he decides he wants to fight there. There is no way Dana risks Barnett beating a ufc guy then running.

And Pat Healy lost his last fight easily from my understanding, although I didn't see it.

[NZB2323]

I like it. I think that it's good for Mir, good for Cormier, and good for the sport.

Mir was talking on the primetime about how he has to get that third belt because he has 3 children and he doesn't want them to fight over which 2 get to have belts after he passes away. Becoming strikeforce champion has to feel a lot better than beating, say, Bigfoot in a UFC match. With Cormier's wrestling Frank should get some chances at submissions, and if Cormier breaks his hand early, maybe Frank can outstrike him. Mir stands a lot better chance against Cormier than he did against JDS.

It's good for Cormier and the sport because there are no elite HWs in strikeforce for Cormier to face. I could care less what organization promotes the fight; a good fight is a good fight.

And you'd think that they'd be able to do the same thing for Melendez. With so many elite LWs in the UFC you'd think that they could send a guy coming off a loss to fight Gil in SF.

[Gold Chain]

Hmmm, not sure how I feel about this.

I am sure Zuffa wants Daniel to enter the UFC at 205 and help a division that is in the current process of being cleaned out. Cormier/Jones might be a fight we see sooner than later.

For Frank, I get it. Company man, fights anyone, always a tough fight, getting on in year's and not really going to sniff a UFC HW Title shot again imo.

I just don't like it from the standpoint that if he loses, the average fan who is unaware of SF, will see Mir as a scrub and as someone who "couldn't cut it in the UFC". (Which is untrue.)

I'll watch, but I feel like Frank is in a no-win situation here, and he's a legend.

[Bernman]

Well, Cormier isn't a member of Cesar Gracie BJJ, so I'm assuming this rumor is true.

These were exactly the type of fighters I wanted to see take the "demotion". It's clear Frank Mir isn't getting a shot at a UFC title for a long time after failing many previous. B.J. is in the same boat as him. He should have made the transfer to fight Melendez to get another shot at a belt and big fight. I'd be much more excited for that fight than Rory vs. B.J. at blubberweight.

[skflives]

Well, Cormier isn't a member of Cesar Gracie BJJ, so I'm assuming this rumor is true.

These were exactly the type of fighters I wanted to see take the "demotion". It's clear Frank Mir isn't getting a shot at a UFC title for a long time after failing many previous. B.J. is in the same boat as him. He should have made the transfer to fight Melendez to get another shot at a belt and big fight. I'd be much more excited for that fight than Rory vs. B.J. at blubberweight.

That's exactly how I am looking at it. I would have settled for someone like Cheick Kongo to come over and fight Cormier but Frank Mir. That's awesome. But in terms of the lightweight division there are a lot of quality guys who due to circumstances aren't even going to be able to sniff a title fight in the UFC.

For example:
Gray Maynard:If Frankie Edgar beats Ben Henderson in a rematch he'll be stuck in limbo.
Clay Guida-always near the top of the division but never seems able to break out.
Takanori Gomi-Just doesn't seem to have it in him anymore. But a fight with a legend like him might be exciting for Melendez
Jim Miller-Like Guida this guy is always near the top of the division but unable to break out.


Those would be the biggest names but even if none of them work out I would then go down the list of everyone after them to see which guy would be willing to step up. Because after Pat Healy where does Melendez go? KJ Noons? He's coming off a loss. But after Noons we have guys like Bobby Green, Issac Valle Flag, Caros Fodor, and gasp Ryan Couture? Yuck, yuck, yuck and double yuck!

[Bernman]

Miller, yes, it's clear that he's not a UFC contender at this point. So he'd be a good example of a fighter who could justify a move down to Strikeforce to fight for the belt or validate Melendez.

But if Maynard made the transfer, who would that leave Pettis to fight? Also, Maynard has only lost to one guy, and is 1-1-1 overall against him. If he were to beat Pettis, and say Cerrone as well, he'd warrant another shot. He is one of the most valuable LW's to the UFC title picture right now. Gray doesn't belong in Strikeforce until another loss or two.

[REDDzone]

The reason DC is getting this fight is because he's coming to the ufc immediately after. I'd be shocked if that weren't already inked. So Mir will be back in the ufc after regardless of circumstance, and will have beaten or been beaten by a ufc fighter. They aren't going to send people from other divisions over imo. Not enough reward.

[skflives]

The reason DC is getting this fight is because he's coming to the ufc immediately after. I'd be shocked if that weren't already inked. So Mir will be back in the ufc after regardless of circumstance, and will have beaten or been beaten by a ufc fighter. They aren't going to send people from other divisions over imo. Not enough reward.

Actually it went without saying that Cormier was going straight to the UFC after this fight. Its long been known that the 2 heavyweights who remained in Strikeforce (Cormier and Barnett) would have at least one more fight in Strikeforce. The only question was whether or not the UFC would bring back Barnett. Cormier was pretty much guaranteed to move to the UFC. I thought people knew that.

[Cammo101]

The reason DC is getting this fight is because he's coming to the ufc immediately after. I'd be shocked if that weren't already inked. So Mir will be back in the ufc after regardless of circumstance, and will have beaten or been beaten by a ufc fighter. They aren't going to send people from other divisions over imo. Not enough reward.

This. With Strikeforce closing down the HW division after this, it is not like Mir is going to be stuck there. That is the difference between this and moving people over to fight Melendez or Rockhold.

[REDDzone]

Actually it went without saying that Cormier was going straight to the UFC after this fight. Its long been known that the 2 heavyweights who remained in Strikeforce (Cormier and Barnett) would have at least one more fight in Strikeforce. The only question was whether or not the UFC would bring back Barnett. Cormier was pretty much guaranteed to move to the UFC. I thought people knew that.

Dude, that's my whole point. The fact that DC is going directly to the ufc is why the ufc will risk sending someone over. As opposed to sending over a lw to face Gil or something.

[SDM]

Yeah, I think they're shutting it down too. Devin Cole's coming from SF to fill in on the upcoming Fox card, so possibly the SF contracts aren't as restrictive as suggested.

(I know Cole's not a draw)

[Shaazzam]

I think this is a fantastic fight. GIves Cormier some juice if he beats Mir, and will up the PPV buys when he headlines a UFC card, and Mir gets a chance at ripping another guys arm off and getting another belt. It's a huge win for either guy IMO.

Think they will look to unify the UFC and Strikeforce belts?

[REDDzone]

Does Cormier actually have a belt? If he actually a strikeforce champ? Or just the gp winner?

[skflives]

Does Cormier actually have a belt? If he actually a strikeforce champ? Or just the gp winner?

Just the GP winner from what I understand.