Former heavyweight champ Mir shocked the MMA world by submitting Minotauro in Toronto. Photo: UFC.
The UFC decided not to wait until Wednesday, the day the Nevada Athletic Commission will give its ruling on Alistair Overeem’s failed drugs test. Dana White announced over Twitter that Jiu-Jitsu star Frank Mir will take Overeem’s place at UFC 146 on May 26, facing heavyweight champion Junior Cigano for the title.
“Now it’s Mir versus Junior dos Santos for the heavyweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas,” said the UFC president.
On the same evening Mir was set to take off Cain Velasquez, but so far they have made no pronouncement as to his substitute.
With nine finishes in 16 career victories, Mir is feared for his slick ground game, having submitted the likes of Roberto Traven, Tim Sylvia, Brock Lesnar, Cheick Kongo and Minotauro, just to name the more famous ones.
In his last appearance in the octagon, Mir was having a rough time against Minotauro, until he pulled a fatal Kimura lock from his sleeve, snapping his opponent’s arm. Now, Cigano will get a shot at revenge on the man who beat his teacher, hero and training partner.
As one can never be too careful, here are few defenses against the Kimura, one of Frank Mir’s favorite submissions. Beto Ferreira, a teacher in Sorocaba, São Paulo State, teaches how it’s important to raise your legs to defend against the attack and prevent him from getting the necessary leverage.
UFC 146
Las Vegas, Nevada
May 26
Junior Cigano vs Frank Mir
Cain Velasquez vs A Definir
Antônio Pezão vs Roy Nelson
Gabriel Napão vs Shane del Rosario
Mark Hunt vs Stefan Struve
Card preliminar
Edson Barboza vs Evan Dunham
CB Dollaway vs Jason Mayhem Miller
Mike Brown vs Daniel Pineda
Dan Hardy vs Duane Ludwig
Jacob Volkmann vs Paul Sass
Darren Elkins vs Diego Brandão
Kyle Kingsbury vs Glover Teixeira