The UFC has announced that two-time former heavyweight champion Frank Mir would be making a one-fight migration to Strikeforce in October or November to take on World Grand Prix winner and unbeaten talent Daniel Cormier.
Though some may question why Mir would opt to fight outside of the UFC Octagon for the first time since his second professional fight – especially given the one-night-only nature of the move – I think this is a brilliant strategy.
It’s so good that more stalled UFC superstars (and ex-super) should be pitching to the bosses as well.
With Strikeforce’s heavyweight division already dissolved, it’s not like Mir is making a permanent move.
Regardless of how this fight plays out, he and Cormier will next compete under the UFC banner; this bout and the as-yet-unannounced match-up featuring World Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist Josh Barnett are the final two big boy bouts in Strikeforce history.
This is more like Mir being loaned to another club for a game than a permanent transfer.
Here’s why it makes perfect sense:
The 33-year-old Mir is coming off a one-sided drubbing at the hands, literally, of heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. He’s lost each of his last three title fights, but beaten the majority of the other tenured heavyweights.
At this point, there aren’t a lot of fights that makes sense for him in the UFC. He’s either forced to take a step back and face and up-and-comer like Travis Browne or a scuffling veteran like Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, neither of whom have the same name value as Mir.
In shifting to Strikeforce to square off with the unbeaten Cormier (10-0), Mir has found a shortcut back to title contention.
If he stayed put in the UFC, he’d likely need three good wins to even be considered for a title shot, and that’s probably contingent on dos Santos no longer holding the title.
Should he go upset Cormier – and yes, a Mir victory should be considered an upset in my opinion – Mir would fast-track back into contention. As no one has been able to beat the former two-time Olympian (2004, 2008 – Freestyle Wrestling), it’s conceivable that a win for Mir would allow him to jump to the head of the line and position himself for a #1 contender bout in his next outing, especially if you’re of the belief (as I am) that a win for Cormier will earn the American Kickboxing Academy product a title shot upon his arrival in the UFC.
There is, of course, a downside, but it’s not as steep for Mir as losing inside the Octagon would be at this point.
Dropping this bout to Cormier does far less damage to Mir’s standing in the division than sticking around the UFC and getting beaten by Browne, Silva, or one of the other heavyweights on the fringes of contention.
At least with this bout, he’s losing to an athlete who has yet to taste defeat and is (hypothetically) moving into a title shot with a win. If you’re going to lose to someone, lose to the best man possible.
If I were a fighter in Mir’s position, I would have been the one suggesting this to Joe Silva as soon as the bumps and bruises “Cigano” gave me healed.
The aim is to remain as close to the top as possible, and fighting the best opponent out there is the easiest way to ensure that happens.
In fact, I would be shocked if more UFC fighters in different divisions didn’t kick the tires on following suit.
Take a guy like Gray Maynard. “The Bully” fought for the UFC lightweight title twice in 2011, coming up short both times.
Regardless of how many wins he stacks up in the next 12 months – and he’s already got one under his belt – the chances of him fighting for the championship again are between slim and none.
It’s just not going to happen with as much depth as there is in the division and his recent history.
Why not see if you can get yourself a big money fight with Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez?
Right now, “El Nino” is lined up to fight journeyman Pat Healy, a gritty wrestler on a good little run, but not exactly the kind of guy you picture when you think title challenger.
I genuinely believe that it would make a ton of sense for the UFC to siphon off some of their talent to Strikeforce right now anyway, seeing as the second-best brand under Zuffa ownership doesn’t appear to be going anywhere any time soon. Restock the remaining divisions with a collection of competitors, including a few who could step in and challenge for the title in their respective divisions right away.
You telling me Nate Marquardt defending his newly won welterweight title against someone like Thiago Alves wouldn’t be a million times better than having him face Jordan Mein or Tarec Saffiedine at this point?
Note: a full column about who I think should move over to Strikeforce will be delivered hot and fresh in the next day or two.
This is a very sharp career move for Mir. If he wins, he’s right back in the thick of things in the UFC heavyweight division. If he loses, he’s not going to lose any more ground considering he’s fighting another top 5 opponent.
Now if we could only convince Dana White to let a few more fighters cross over.
Follow The Roar’s UFC Expert E. Spencer Kyte on Twitter (@spencerkyte).
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