Give him Nogueira
When I first heard about Dana White’s intentions to promote another Lesnar vs Mir match-up, I had some mixed emotions. At first, it looks like a great fight to promote. Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir will surely supply another memorable trash talk moments about how they hate each other, and eventually want to kill each other. But then, after analyzing the whole picture, I came to a conclusion that it’s would be probably one of the most irrelevant bouts in UFC history.
After two questionable performances against Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez, where Brock Lesnar was destroyed on his feet, many fans consider the Minnesotan as a fighter who’s afraid to take a punch. A fighter who relies only on his wrestling, which is a complete opposite from what a modern Mixed Martial Artist has to be, and that is a well rounded fighter. Right now, Brock Lesnar is in the same position, as after UFC 81 where he was submitted by Frank Mir. His image as a fighter is hurt, and Frank Mir, a man he already beat in a rematch at UFC 100, is surely not a solution.
Plus, Frank Mir has much more to lose in this fight than Lesnar, especially after coming off a KO victory against Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 119. Frank Mir could find himself in line for a title shot, if he beats his next opponent, what I can’t say about Brock Lesnar.
People also seem to forget that Brock Lesnar has only 6 UFC bouts under his belt. Two of them are against Frank Mir. If Dana White wants to build Lesnar’s legacy, and to continue promoting him as one of the greatest Heavyweights in MMA, him and Joe Silva should match him up against as many different opponents as possible.
Why not to let him fight Big Nog? Both men are coming off a defeat against Cain Velasquez, and both men lost to Frank Mir. Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira is nothing but a perfect match.
Minotauro is also one of the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters to ever compete in the sport. BJJ was invented for smaller guys to defeat bigger opponents, which only adds to a challenge he has in Brock Lesnar. And speaking about Lesnar, what could be better than victimizing another MMA legend? Lesnar needs this fight to resurrect his image.
Skill-wise, Lesnar would have to think twice before taking Nogueira to the ground. Big Nog made a career out of submitting people off his back, and the limbs of the giants Semmy Schilt, Zuluzinho and Bobb Sapp are the proof. Lesnar will have to stand with Nogueira, and that’s exactly what he needs in order to prove his striking worth something.
It’s time for Lesnar and Frank Mir to move on, and try to re-claim their spot at the top of the Heavyweight Mountain. Lesnar vs Mir III only makes sense with a title or title shot on the line. Right now, it’s far from being the case.
