Mir, publicity photo
This Saturday the 25th, sparks will fly in the Octagon for the first time in Indiana, USA, with UFC 119.
Frank Mir, a two-time heavyweight division, faces mixed martial arts legend Mirko Cro Cop. Brazil’s Rogério Minotouro goes up against rising-star Ryan Bader. Also at this coming installment of the event, a rematch between former welterweight champion Matt Serra and Chris Lytle, an Indianapolis native. The event will unfold at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Initially, Frank Mir was set to face Rodrigo Minotouro. A hip injury suffered in training last month pulled Minotouro from the bout, and Croatia’s Mirko Cro Cop stepped in in his place. Mir said he was motivated to face Minotauro but was pleased with the change of opponent, as he had already beaten the Brazilian in December 2008 and anything but a knockout within seven minutes would, to him, be defeat; and the idea he was intrigued by the danger that a single mistake could end the fight posed by a fighter like Cro Cop, who Mir will fight for the first time.
Cro Cop showed similar respect for his opponent’s abilities, stating that Frank is perhaps the best grappler in the UFC at present and that he will not try his luck with Mir on the ground.
Known for his heavy hands and lethal ground game, Rogério “Minotouro” Nogueira is dangerous wherever the fight may play out. It took just 1:56 min for him to knock out Luiz Cane in his UFC debut last November. In May of this year, however, he had a disappointing showing against Jason Brilz, taking the split-decision win to a salvo of boos. This time around he’ll have to step it up against the undefeated Ryan Bader. The fighter has rattled off four wins in a row since joining the UFC and holds a knockout win over the veteran Keith Jardine at UFC 110.
Matt Serra against Chris Lytle is another promising matchup. The two faced off in the “The Ultimate Fighter 4” reality show back in 2006 and, as they spent time as teammates, Serra and Lytle are familiar with each other’s games. Now after four years, fans will be able to watch the rematch and witness the two fighters’ growth in MMA.
On the preliminary card, Brazil’s Thiago Tavares returns to the Octagon to pick up where he left off. When he started back in 2007, he had a spectacular win over Jason Black in his second fight for the promotion and was touted as being a phenomenon. After a year sidelined, he faces first-timer Pat Audinwood.
“I’m going to show how the best in the world are in the UFC. Anyone coming in will have to lose to the veterans,” said the Brazilian.
UFC 119
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Frank Mir vs Mirko Cro Crop
Ryan Bader vs Rogério Minotouro
Matt Serra vs Chris Lytle
Sean Sherk vs Evan Dunham
Melvin Guillard vs Jeremy Stephens
Preliminary card
CB Dollaway vs Joe Doerksen
Matt Mitrione vs Joey Beltran
Thiago Tavares vs Pat Audinwood
Steve Lopez vs Waylon Lowe
TJ Grant vs Julio Paulino
Mark Hunt vs Sean Mccorkle