Sunday, December 28, 2008

White: Lesnar/Mir in Spring 2009

At the post-fight press conference for UFC 92, UFC president Dana White confirmed the final bracket of the promotion's unofficial heavyweight tournament would conclude sometime in spring 2009, possibly in April or May. Frank Mir will attempt to become the undisputed heavyweight title holder, while Brock Lesnar will attempt to avenge a loss at UFC 81.

A venue was not named for the event, although unofficially, UFC 97 is scheduled for Apr. 18 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A date and location for UFC 98, presumably in May, is unknown at this time.

In other shop talk, White disputed implications that Saturday winners Mir and Rashad Evans were less marketable than former champions Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

"At the end of the day, this is what we do," White said. "If I can't promote them, then I've got some problems. I think they're very promotable. Rashad Evans is the real deal. If you look at who he's beaten and what he's done. He's undefeated.

"Frank Mir has a great story, coming back. Brock Lesnar is a great story with Mir and Lesnar. Very promotable. I'm a promoter, that's what I do."

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