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17/03/10 - Mir seeks to apply Brock lessons in Carwin fight
Losing to Brock Lesnar in their second match was a hard blow for Frank Mir, but as with all clouds it had something of a silver lining. Being only the second time Mir had faced a gargantuan man with such wrestling credentials - and improved MMA skills since their first meeting - Mir found himself on something of a (painful) learning curve.
“I think I learned what my weaknesses are against a good wrestling base and little things I did jiu jitsu wise and in wrestling, I realised a few mistakes I have been making. I get to watch film on it and sit there and have other people that are better at it than I am explain it and try and work it in practice,” he mused as he looked back on the UFC 100 loss to the current UFC heavyweight champion.
Mir added with a laugh, “Obviously nobody likes being pressed up against the cage but there is a lot better technique to it than I displayed at UFC 100 so there is areas I can improve. And the great thing about it is if I make the same mistakes against Carwin its going to be a short night also.”
Short nights are something Carwin knows all about. Not one of the victims on his 11-0 professional record have made it out of the first round. Incredibly, just one has made it past the two minute mark and that was in Carwin’s debut fight. Perhaps he was a little slow out of the staring blocks in that one.
Mir is well aware of the butcher’s bill his opponent owns.
“His last fight was Gonzaga and before that he went out and destroyed people quickly. That fight with Gonzaga, who has fought for the title and is a world-class competitor, Shane was in trouble early and was actually in a very bad position, his back was on the ground slumped against the cage,” he recalls.
“But Carwin was able to get back up to his feet and not just turn it around but within 30 seconds of being in a bad sport was able to turn it around and come out with a knockout victory. It impressed me immensely and that is when I realised he is someone to be reckoned with.”
Back to the lessons learned against Brock. Like the heavyweight champion, Carwin is a giant of a man with considerable power and top-drawer wrestling ability. How does Mir see himself dealing with that package this time round?
“I think in movement and footwork. I am able to fight backwards a little bit better than a lot of the other heavyweights are. I think if I were to try and stand in front of Shane and exchange shots I think it’s a coin toss at that point. Whoever lands the better shot is going to come out victorious,” he reveals.
“I want to avoid that as much as possible and also it makes it easier for his wrestling if I am standing right in front of him. So if anything the boxing and angles is what I will try to use the most.”
Mir-Carwin is the co-main event of UFC 111, which takes place on Saturday March 27th in Newark, New Jersey. The event will be headlined by Georges St. Pierre defending his welterweight belt against British challenger Dan Hardy.
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