Frank Mir gets why Brock Lesnar is UFC heavyweight champion. Lesnar is big, strong, but most of all, marketable.In a teleconference for "The Ultimate Fighter" season eight finale that takes place this Saturday, Mir admitted that the heavyweight landscape had shifted dramatically, but not surprisingly.
"Our sport is twofold: one is your performance in the ring, second is the draw you cause with ticket sales and pay per view buys," he said. "It's a combination of those two that enable the 'ranking system' if you really want to put a ranking system, of who gets title shots and who doesn't. For example, Cain Velasquez, (a) phenomenal heavyweight fighter, but very few people are talking about him. He's very formidable in the ring; outside the ring, I don't know how many tickets he sells.
"But then you have Brock Lesnar, who has phenomenal fan appeal sells tons of tickets. He was 1-1 in the UFC, and he gets a title shot."
Mir has been fighting in the Octagon since 2001, and has gotten used to the breaks. The organization's politics still grate with his vision of the fighter as martial artist, but he's learned to let it go.
"I could point to Jon Fitch who was 8-0 before he got a title shot," he said. "Is that right? No, but guess what, this isn't like an Olympic sport where (it's) number one guy versus number two guy. It's like boxing; it has that entertainment value to where if no one wants to see you fight, you can be 30-0 and it won't matter. No one cares."
To Mir, Lesnar's title grab was a mixture of business and probability. Lesnar got there because of his stature, but won the title because of the unpredictable nature of the sport. If anything, the victory reinforced his misgivings about the way marketing decides who fights who.
"With Brock getting that first shot at Randy, did I think that was acceptable?" Mir asked. "No, I think people have to work their way up a little bit more, but that's just me as a fighter. And I realized that's why I think people need to work their way through the ranks, because anybody on any given day can get caught with a shot and lose. So now you have the champ who's 2-1 in the UFC, and I think that's what a lot of people are now upset about. But again, people buy tickets to see Brock Lesnar. That's the way it is."
Should Mir be victorious against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 92 on Dec. 27, he will get a chance to defeat the man he's already beaten, and in the process, mark the biggest achievement in his career. So while Mir isn't necessarily thrilled that Lesnar is the new champ, he's just one step away from proving that art can overtake commerce.
12 comments:
MIR I HOPE YOU WIN AND FACE LESNAR AND HE BEATS YOUR FACE IN!!!! YOU GOT LUCKY THE FIRST TIME
He didn't get lucky, thats what jiu-jitsu is about, not relying on strength but technique and intelligence.
Agreed-Lesnar is the Kimbo of UFC. I hope he gets exposed like Kimbo did as a one dimensional fighter not worthy of the accolades he's been receiving.
Lesnar's no Kimbo - he's got a far more advanced skill set than Kimbo, has more stamina and endurance, and is a more intelligent fighter.
Now, don't get me wrong - I'm not claiming he earned his shot the "right" way, but he did take full advantage of the chance.
I don't think Mir gets through Big Nog, but he could suprise me. Either way, I see Mir or Nog as another big test for Brock - and nobody gets to be the Undisputed champ until after that fight anyway. :)
I agree that Lesnar did not deserve a title shot, but, he beat Randy. He is the champ. I would love to see a Mir rematch. the first fight should ahve never been stood up, for the punch in the back of Mir's head anyway. Would Mir have survived that?? Rematch, Lesnar does not make the mistake and shuts the Lesnar haters up!!
Mir got no room to talk, when it comes to working your way back up the ladder. He talks about how green Lesnar is.....well how did Mir get this title shot????
Oh yeah, by beating the 1-0(at the time Lesnar) and Hardonk before that.....the 3 fights before that he should of lost ALL 3(though he went 1-2)
And Hardonk is no hellraiser. So Mir "REALLY" worked his way back up there
Frank Mir is not your ordinary MMA heavyweight. He is into the science and the competition of MMA. He had made some really strong point(s) of contention about Lesnar. I agree with his statements and I feel that he correct when he says that on any given day (anyone) can lose. THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF MMA!
I hope he does fight Lesnar again, and I hope he goes for broke and he knocks out Lesnar so whimpy people like all you ney-sayers out there see that Frank Mir is no joke.
He is in the top 8 heavyweights in the world. The guy is an anaimal and when he's on, he's pretty much unstoppable. He's in a great space mentally now so he is extra dangerous!
Comparing Lesnar to Kimbo is an insult. Lesnar is more Couture. He has a real wrestling background, real fighting skills and had a late start in the MMA game.
Also, Lesnar built his brand and the UFC should have to put him in high profile fights to profit from it.
saying lesnar is like kimbo is the dumbest thing ive ever heard, you must not watch mma at all, your an idiot and i hope you get hit by a semi truck on your way to you job at the car wash.
saying lesnar is like kimbo is the dumbest thing ive ever heard, you must not watch mma at all, your an idiot and i hope you get hit by a semi truck on your way to you job at the car wash.
MIR JUST BEAT NOG.. AND BREAK LESANARS LEG, ARM WHATEVER YOU CAN.HE ISNT SHIT JUST BECAUSE HES BIG.
Lesnar as champ is a joke. He is 2-1. Besides the point he is no where close to the number 1 heavyweight in the world. Fedor would ruin the "WWF fighter", hands down. Fedor is the true champion. Anyone that knows anything about mma knows that much
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