UFC Fight Night 61: Frank Mir vs Antonio Silva Breakdown
UFC Fight Night 61 goes down this weekend (Sunday February 22nd, 2015), with Frank Mir vs Antonio Silva as the main event. “Bigfoot” will be looking to bounce back from a crushing first round knockout against Andrei Arlovski UFC Fight Night 51. Mir hopes to get his first win in nearly four years, after suffering four straight losses.
So two hard luck heavyweights with the ability to snap or crush their opponents will collide in Brazil, but who has the goods? Without further ado, the LowKickMMA.com Frank Mir vs Antonio Silva fight breakdown
Striking
Frank Mir: The ex-heavyweight champion’s striking was never really on par in his early days, then started to evolve, and has seemingly been absent again in recent showings. He outstruck Roy Nelson pretty handily, an ageing and skidding Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cheick Kongo all got bashed about by Mir, but he doesn’t have luck against refined strikers. Junior Dos Santos, Shane Carwin, Alistair Overeem, Brandon Vera even Josh Barnett all wrecked Mir.
3 from 16 wins and 5 from 8 losses by T/KO. 48% striking success rate, a terrible 37% striking defense ratio.
Antonio Silva: The giant Brazilian doesn’t often use his BJJ black belt, having squashed 13 opponents from 18 wins by T/KO. His last four wins have all come by stoppage. Equally, his last four losses have all come in the form of strikes. His chin may not be as ‘weak’ as Mir’s has been tagged, but “Bigfoot” can get put away no doubt.
45% striking success rate, so not laser-accurate by any means, and a less than stellar 55% defense ratio.
Both black belts in Karate, but Silva gets the nod at 60-40 for more octagon proof and gigantic hands.
Submissions
Frank Mir: Here is where the Jackson’s MMA trained Mir will look to drag this fight. His fantastic submission wins over Brock Lesnar, “Big Nog”, Cheick Kongo and many more have showcased that FM is not to be effed with on the mat. BJJ black belt, nine submission wins from 16, never been tapped
Antonio Silva: Also a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, “Bigffot” has only ever used it to submit two opponents. The last time he cranked a limb or neck FTW was back in 2009 in Sengoku against Jim York. The skill is no doubt there, but unseen for the most part. He has also never been tapped/napped/snapped.
Frank Mir is a beast on the ground, no doubt in my mind he holds the 60-40 advantage over Silva, at the very minimum.
Takedowns
Frank Mir: 45% success rate in the takedown department, only a 55% defense ratio but his back game is sicker than anyone in recent memory. These are big guys fighting, it’s not as simple to use evasive footwork as it would be in the flyweight class. That said, we aren’t talking reason, we are talking fact. Mir is too easy t take to the mat, and doesn’t have much of an offensive game, although some very sick Judo throws were on point against “Big Country.
Antonio Silva: “Bigfoot” has never landed any of his seven attempted UFC takedowns, and gets sacked on 45% of his opponent’s attempted takedowns. As we said, he never really goes to ground, but when he does you won’t get him off (see the ugly ending to the Fedor Emelianenko fight). He might be easier to takedown than Mir, but is strong as an ox and just as pretty, so he likely won’t be hanging around on the canvas for long.
Experience gives Mir the edge, but size and strength drags it back for Silva. 55-45 for Mir.
Keys to victory
For Mir, he needs to stay away from the powerful strikes of Silva, use the natural southpaw advantage but be aware that “Bigfoot” switches stance up. Drag this fight to the mat and snap one of those gargantuan limbs. Silva needs this fight standing, he may be a black belt in BJJ but he wants none of that business with a wizard like FM. Rock that beard, don’t follow him to the mat, and clean the clock until the ref say’s it’s enough, a-la Junior Dos Santos.
