Frank Mir Moves To Strikeforce To Face Daniel Cormier

[No More Sorrow]

Well, this is a surprise. After the UFC tried and failed to book Tim Sylvia against Daniel Cormier in his farewell Strikeforce fight, people were wondering who the heck they could throw in there against the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner. Surely, it wouldn't be anyone from the UFC. Would it? Well, your answer comes via USA Today, and I think you're going to like it:


Former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Frank Mir (16-6 MMA, 14-6 UFC) is temporarily leaving the octagon in favor of a Strikeforce cage.


USA TODAY Sports confirmed with UFC and Strikeforce officials that Mir has agreed to meet Strikeforce grand prix winner and former two-time Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier (10-0 MMA, 7-0 SF) in the co-main event of September's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy fight card, on Sept. 29 at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, and airs on Showtime.


Quote:


"There has been a lot of speculation as to who Cormier would fight next, and this is the fight that makes the most sense," UFC president Dana White said. "The reality is, Cormier is one of the best heavyweights in the world. He just won the grand prix and beat Josh Barnett. He needs to fight opponents of that caliber, and Frank Mir is that guy."
It seems pretty clear that both men will be returning to the UFC after the bout, so it seems like a good idea for Mir to take a bout like this coming off a loss to UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos.


People have been asking for a UFC crossover ever since the Zuffa purchase. Now they have one.

Guess the Tim Syliva thing was BS.

Anyways, this is pretty awesome. I think Cormier might smash him up a bit but it's a good measuring stick considering that Mir last fought for the UFC title.

 

[Slim]

HOLY CRAP! Mir? MIR!? To Strikeforce? MAnnnnnnnn when is this fight gonna happen... when... I WANT TO SEE THIS FIGHT!

 

[No More Sorrow]

I thought it was September, but i guess they're holding off on this fight until Oct.

Now if the UFC would just send some more Lightweights over to Challenge Gilbert Melendez, i think this happening opens the door for that to happen though which is going to be awesome.

 

[Slim]

Yeah cause it isn't like they are sending a Gabriel Gonzaga or something... but they are sending the guy that recently had a heavyweight title fight and had a very impressive streak going. It's like they are sending top notch talent.

So it definitely opens the door for a top notch guy from another division over there. Well ya know at least for a fight.

 

[No More Sorrow]

This is pretty big for both guys really, If Mir wins he can probably squeeze out a few more co-main events against guys he hasn't faced yet like Barnett or Werdum.

If Cormier loses he's basically eliminated from title contention for the near future. If he wins though you gotta think he'd be in line for a title shot.

 

[Slim]

Mir can definitely benefit greatly if he wins this fight. Not only does he take down the top Strikeforce heavyweight but it keeps his name highly relevant.

Cormeir wins and he will be at the top of the line... well depending on how he wins for a future title shot.

 

[Big Red Jericho Punk]

Wow I'm stoked for this. I'm a huge Mir fan but Cormier is really tearing it up lately in SF. This is a big deal and I can't wait to see this fight. Tear his shoulder Mir!

 

[Chase]

Wow they actually are doing this. By god Zuffa did something right with Strikeforce.

 

[The Cork]

Would of preferred Mir/Barnett but this is good too.

Beats having Tim Sylvia back anyway :

 

[No More Sorrow]

Here's what Cormier had to say about all this.

"You've got to tip your hat off to the executives at Zuffa for doing something like that and to Frank Mir for doing it. I respect Frank greatly for stepping in and taking this fight. This fight can elevate my status in the sport a ton. The reality is Frank Mir is a guy people from the UFC know, he's been a champion, he's always around the top of the sport. Frank Mir is going to introduce me to the UFC fans a little bit more than I would fighting a different guy. There's no motivation like fighting a champion. I respect Frank, the fight's very similar to Josh Barnett. I think Josh Barnett is better. No disrespect to Frank, but I think Josh is better and I'm going to train as if I'm fighting Josh Barnett again, and let's see how this fight plays out."

I don't like how he's sort of looking past Mir, I think Cormier will win this fight but at anytime Mir could slap a submission on you and break you in half.

 

[Slim]

Mannnn if he gives Mir just a split second of free space on the ground... its either tap or snap. And for him saying that Barnett is better and he is going to train asif he is fighting Barnett... I really want Mir to win now. I just want Mir to tap him out. Put him in his place.

But I'm still stoked for this fight.

Tim Sylvia... heh that would have been funny... seeing him ready to fight... 15 seconds in and he is gassing while Cormier is like what? And finishes it.

 

[No More Sorrow]

I guess Tim still might be fighting Barnett, as Josh has to have one last fight in Strikeforce as well.

 

[Deezy]

Who did Mir piss off?

 

[Troy]

Nicely done by UFC to send over a top opponent for Cormier, I was worried they would send an under card guy rather than risking one of their top fighters in Strikeforce. This gives Strikeforce a massive mainevent for the title and it should be a great fight. Will be a very good test for Cormier to see what level he is at compared to the UFC division.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Yeah this is huge for Strikeforce for more than one reason, like Troy said it gives them a huge mainevent that will likely break records in terms of the rating for the show.

Secondly, i think this is going to open the door for more guys from the UFC to come over to Strikeforce and compete their' while under contract to the UFC. Which is amazing news for somebody like Gilbert Melendez or Nate Marquardt.