Frank Mir: JDS is a better boxer, but he has no chance on the ground
Posted on May 11, 2012, 11:15 AM by Anton GurevichFrank Mir made another move in his ongoing psychological warfare with Junior dos Santos, ahead of the upcoming UFC 146 main event clash in Las Vegas, Nevada. Frank Mir admitted JDS is a better boxer, but still stated that the Brazilian has no chance if the fight goes to the ground. Former champ also stated that dos Santos avoids ground game like it was poison, making it very clear that he will be looking to submit his opponent on May 26th:
Earlier this week, Frank Mir declared he's faster and hits harder than Junior dos Santos. Speaking via USAToday.com, JDS seemed irritated with Frank Mir's remarks, claiming that "only in his dreams" the Nevadan is faster and stronger:
"Frank Mir is dangerous. He's a fighter that needs to be taken seriously. But he's also a fighter that talks too much. His style of promoting fights is to just talk a lot. He previously said that he was faster than me. That's only in his dreams. Of course, he isn't faster than me. I'm faster. For sure I hit harder. And if the fight goes to rounds three or four or five, for sure I take the advantage."
Mir is well-known for playing mind games with his opponents; Cheick Kongo, Minotauro Nogueira and Brock Lesnar are perfect examples. One way or another, we will have to wait until May 26th to see whether Frank Mir's "intelligent trash talk" played any role in the match-up.
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Comments
We dont want to hear what you have to say Frank, we just want to see the fight. Let UFC do the promoting and you should go train
If you don't want to hear what Frank has to say, DON'T CLICK THE LINK! Frank is easily one of the most educated fighters in the sport and he's probably absorbed more tape on JDS in the last few weeks than any of us have in our lives. Frank's being honest about what he's observed....but he knows (just like we do) that JDS has legit BJJ and is a threat on the ground. What kind of interview would it be if Frank came in and said, "Yeah he's as good as me on the ground and better than me on the feet and it's unlikely that I'll get a takedown. In reality, there's nowhere that I have an advantage except maybe the pre-fight press conference."
What do you honestly expect the guy to say?
Mir needs to out-wrestle JDS be able to take him down and submit him on the mat. Thus far. no fighter, even wrestlers like Carwin, has ever succeeded to do so...The fight will most likely take place standing...Mir needs to be very sharp on fight night to avoid JDS's lethal bombs...I don't see Mir winning, but I hope the fight goes more than 3 rounds to be able to judge the range of skills that the champ possesses. Ultimately, I'm hoping for a JDS-Valasquez rematch...I believe he's one of the few (Alistair being another) who can give him a run for his money...
Man! It must be amazing to be Frank Mir, The King of Everything....
@ Borealis - I don't disagree with your point but I think Frank is creative enough to start the BJJ standing and roll from there.
Actually, Carwin did take JDS down once in their fight. It's not like he was constantly looking for the takedown though. His gameplan was to stand up and strike with JDS and hopefully catch him with a big shot. He only looked for takedowns late in the fight when things were obviously not going his way.
He only attempted 3 takedowns in 3 rounds.
Spot on. I always watch Frank Mir interviews because other than the ''trash talk'' he actually gives intelligent insight into how his skills match up with his opponents. Watch 10 GSP interviews and you'll hear the same phrases recycled over and over.
I agree with you JoeFacehood ! It is logical for a fighter to be confident. If he wasnt ,he would have to change job
Mir, either way you look at it, you will be taking a long nap.
I wouldn't be surprise if Frank -Frank break JDS arm also. I still don't understand why Cain didn't get the rematch due to that premature Fox Channel safety stoppage. WEAK ON PLAYA HATAZ
Cain had a ruptured eardrum, took about 5 unanswered punches to the head, and rolled over face down. Ironic that you should pick out that fight for this thread, because that's about how people beat Mir.
What makes Frank Mir think it's going to go to the ground? He has to take JDS down to do that and JDS has great takedown defense. Frank Mir's takedowns are very poor and slow. JDS by 1st round knockout.
You're right. However, Mir can also fake the striking game and pull guard. Though I doubt if JDS is a slouch on the ground, for he trains with the Nogueira brothers. I'm not counting Mir out, but his chances are very slim. JDS via 1st round KO/TKO.
His wrestling's looked much improved lately. Big Country's not the best fighter in the world, but in his entire MMA career, he's only been taken down 7 times. Once by JDS who had him rocked to hell and back, and the other 6 times in his fight with Mir. Mir also both outstruck and outwrestled Cro Cop, completely neutralizing him the entire fight before knocking him out. He's been heavily training his wrestling since he got manhandled by Lesnar at UFC 100, which was back in July 2009. He's had plenty of time to work it, and the last time he employed a heavy wrestling strategy, he tossed his opponent around like a ragdoll the whole fight. I think assuming his takedowns are still as bad as we saw in his fight with, say, Wes Sims would be a bit foolish. If JDS walks into the cage thinking Frank can't wrestle, he will get taken down, and I think Mir will have to get it to the ground once.
only once*
AMEN!!!! Suckapunch. I wish the idiot the best, but do something. This guy got manhandled by Carwin and Lesnar. He killed Carwin and would of done the same to Lesnar.
Good Luck taking JDS down. Might have the best takedown defense in the HW divsion.
Sorry. He meaning JDS killed Carwin and would of done the same to Lesnar.
This is probably pretty true
Oh Frank.... Stop the intro to Psychology. Jds hadn't had to use his jitz because no one can outbox or take him down. You need this fight to go to the mat for any chance at victory.
I actually wonder how the stand up will play out. JDS has clearly superior boxing, and is incredibly unlikely to try to take Mir down, so I wonder how much of a kick game we'll see from Mir. JDS will want to outbox and stay on the outside to better avoid takedowns, but I wonder how that will affect the fight. Mir does kick pretty hard, and if JDS isn't aggressive enough, he could wind up taking unnecessary damage that could cost him the fight. Both fighters are known for early finishes, so it should be interesting. I will eat my socks if this one goes to decision.
JDS is gonna pick Mir apart with long range textbook boxing and leave Franks face like a butchers block ,as he did Carwins.
EASY FIGHT for JDS
I'm glad Mir is saying this and I'm hoping he heeds his own words and gets the fight to the ground or he is going to be in a world of hurt.
Yes!!! I agree. Hopefully Frank's ego doesn't lead him to believe he can stand up with JDS. Go with your strength Frank.
Anybody else get the urge to prank dial those numbers behind Francis?
Frank...at this level anything is possible, just look at what Belcher did to Palhares on the ground....but anyway you will Understand when they wake you up after a brutal KO...cheers.
Stop running your mouth Mir.
“I’m a lot bigger than (Junior) Dos Santos and I hit a lot harder. I’m a taller, longer athlete … quicker; I’ll constantly pepper him with shots when he comes in and make him pay when I do hit him with something."
A few days ago you were going to beat him at his own game. Then I guess you woke up and realized how little chance you stood in the stand up. You got eaten by Brock who looked like a school girl against the top heavy weight guys.
Mir will be the bigger man, I can see him pushing JDS into the cage and working the clinch, little dirty boxing, why looking to sweep him for a takedown, and working his sub game.
If JDS circles well and avoids the TD and Clinch, he wins by KO
In my Opinion Frank Mir fights are hard to call, i tend to pick him and most the time it works out well for me.
JDS is a great striker with sick TDD, and he is very likeable--however, he does not really promote his fights that well. Even though I like JDS, I do not look forward to his interviews--they always seem the same.
Frank Mir, win or lose, is trying to generate some interest in an event which was suckerpunched by Overeem and the NSAC. Everyone has basically written him off. Naturally, he believes in himself--and he is going to try to make a case to the fans that he is no easy meat.
We all know that what counts is what happens in the Octagon, but there will always be pre-fight hype and jibber jabber before the main event.
I see nothing unusual in his comments--in fact, they are pretty tame by the standards or rather, lack of standards of fighters like Sonnen.
Perfectly put.
After Frank lost to Block and Carwins he fought much smarter . But not for sure would be good enough for him to pulls it off this match .imo
I hope JDS ko's his ass. He shouldn't be even fighting the belt in the first place. What has he done lately? Beat Nogeria the washed up fighter twice..Big deal. Got his ass kicked by a fake MMA fighter Brock. I'm really sick and tired of seeing him fight for a belt. It make the belt worthless. Put someone in there who has worked his way up and deserves a shot. Terrible call on this one UFC.
mir's biggest problem is his weak chin
yeah you are better than JDS on the ground frankie but you got to get there first.... JDS had some top notch competition and I dont recall seeing him a lot on the ground..
It's only going to ground, when Mir is sleeping, lol
Wouldn't be shocked to see Santos reverse this on him, and put him on the ground. Santos will submit his ass if he keeps talking smack.
I am pretty sure the fight will end up on the ground, ;p and it's not going to be nice for Mir. :)
cheers