If Mir Earns Emergency UFC 146 Call-Up, Velasquez Will Happily Face Substitute Foe

[No More Sorrow]

Currently scheduled to fight Frank Mir at May's UFC 146 event, persistent rumors indicate Velasquez's opponent may be pulled from the matchup in favor of a shot at Dos Santos.

If it happens that way, so be it, said Velasquez. Just get him another fight, he said, and get him closer to an honest shot at the title.


"I definitely think that's fair," Velasquez told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) in regards to the rumors. "He's coming off of a three-fight winning streak. Dos Santos beat me fair and square. If I had won the fight, then I'd be in the same position.


"If they lift him up, then yeah, I'd definitely be fine with that."


Dos Santos, of course, is currently slated to face former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 146, which takes place May 26 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, a recent pre-fight drug test that flagged Overeem for elevated levels of testosterone has left his licensing status in doubt.


With Overeem's status uncertain, some reports have suggested Mir serves as a back-up plan and will be pulled from the Velasquez fight if an April 24 Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing forces a change.


Velasquez said he's not really considering the possibilities right now and is instead focused on Mir. If things change, Velasquez is open to facing a new foe, provided a win would move him closer to another shot at the title.


"As far as right now, it's Frank, so that's who I'm getting ready for," Velasquez said. "But if turns out to be different, it doesn't matter who it would be, just as long as it's one more to get in that same position to fight for that heavyweight title.

[video=youtube;VhPTp_KTKDE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VhPTp_KTKDE[/video]

 

[Slim]

If Cain is that cool about it... and if Overeem is too much man to fight... make it Mir and give Cain a real opponent.

 

[Slim]

Dana posted this on facebook

Taking off to Atlanta!!!! May 26 th is now Mir vs JDS for the HW title in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand.

HOLY SHIT!

 

[No More Sorrow]

Just seen that, awesome news. Fuck Overeem.

 

[Slim]

Well looks like Overeem had his one fight in the UFC and now he gonna get the can.

Overeem screwed Overeem

 

[No More Sorrow]

Wouldn't surprise me. This is awesome, now my two favorite heavyweights get to fight for the title. Have to wonder who is going to end up fighting Cain now too.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Alistair Overeem (36-11 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will get his day in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission next week, but UFC officials aren't waiting around.

UFC president Dana White announced late Friday night that Overeem has been pulled from the main event of UFC 146, and Frank Mir (16-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) will now face Junior Dos Santos (14-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) for the UFC heavyweight title.

Mir was originally expected to face Cain Velasquez (9-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC). White did not immediately reveal if Velasquez will receive a new opponent.

Dos Santos, of course, was slated to face former Strikeforce champion Overeem in the main event of UFC 146, which takes place May 26 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, a recent pre-fight drug test that flagged Overeem for elevated levels of testosterone left his licensing status in doubt.

Overeem is scheduled to appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday in an effort to gain licensure. His camp has yet to reveal exactly what their defense will be in front of the commission, but UFC officials have apparently decided to move forward now.​

MMAjunkie.com

(UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) attempted unsuccessfully to reach White for further comment.

Mir enters the fight on the strength of a three-fight win streak. The former heavyweight champion is 8-2 in his past 10 fights and has downed Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Roy Nelson and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic.

While Velasquez's status is currently uncertain, on Thursday the former champion told MMAjunkie.com he'd be happy to fight anyone on the UFC roster provided a win would move him closer to a shot at the heavyweight title he lost in late 2011.

"It doesn't matter who it would be, just as long as it's one more to get in that same position to fight for that heavyweight title," Velasquez said.​

Here's the official press release , confirming that Overeem is out of the title fight.
​

 

[The Cork]

Rooting for Mir here.

I think he got this....

 

[No More Sorrow]

I think he's got it also he's been on a roll lately. Don't think he'll break JDS's arm, but i'd take the KO win.

 

[chefboyardee]

this is a good matchup for mir.i think he takes it.im not a dos santos guy.

 

[The Cork]

Would have loved to have seen Jones step up and fill in against JDS here, not that Mir's a bad choice or anything but would of been a brilliant story.