UFC 146: JDS vs. Mir LowKick.com Staff Predictions
Posted on May 25, 2012, 11:48 AM by Anton Gurevich
Anton Gurevich: It’s no secret I’m a huge Frank Mir fan. I really admire Frank Mir as a fighter, and will find it hard to stay unbiased on Saturday night. Mir is the only “old school” Heavyweight currently competing on highest level; he belongs to an era of Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia, who all struggled to hold their place in the division. Match-up wise, I think Frank Mir lacks the speed and explosiveness in stand-up, but he’s definitely more diverse as a striker than JDS, and hits just as hard. As long as he’s not spamming for takedowns during the fight and stays confident on his feet, I think Frank Mir can shock the world with KO/TKO victory. So there you have it, my prediction is Frank Mir via KO/TKO in Round 2.
Evan Holober: Junior Dos Santos will beat Frank Mir. He punches too hard for the chin of Mir to hold up. His take down defense is too good for Mir's wrestling. His combinations are fast and accurate. His counter punching is nothing short of deadly. He trains with the Nogueira's daily, and also rolls with some of the best grapplers in Brazil so if the fight does go to the ground there's no guarantee Mir would pull a sub. He's fast, powerful, well-trained, and down right mean once he hits the mat. Frank's only chances will come from mistakes made by Junior. The problem for him is history doesn't point to any happening. Junior Dos Santos TKO 1.
Mike Searson:. I am going with Dos Santos by KO/TKO in the first round. Junior is hard to get to the ground and I don't see Mir being able to stand and bang with him. Mir has a chance in this one, but I see it as an extreme long shot. Both fighters tend to finish their bouts early, of his 15 career wins, 10 of Dos Santos' wins have been by KO/TKO and all of Mir's losses have been by KO/TKO. In perspective, Shane Carwin knocked out Mir two years ago, and Dos Santos knocked out Carwin almost a year later. While Mir is a master at submission (9 of his 17 wins), Dos Santos has only been submitted once, and that was 5 years ago.
Bryan Fontez: I'm gonna be honest here, this fight doesn't hold a candle to the original bout everyone was dying to see. JDS vs Overeem would have promised some serious fireworks of the striking variety. But let's not dwell on the past, Frank Mir is a very good fighter with the ability and potential to defeat almost any Heavyweight on the planet earth. But unfortunately for Frank, Junior Dos Santos is not one of them. I'll be cheering for Mir because I like him and have a serious interest in seeing upsets. I also have a massive respect for Mir's skills and truly believe he's probably the best grappler in the heavyweight division, but submission skills aren't going to help you when you have two heavy, light-speed, iron-like fists flying at your face repeatedly. In a recent face-2-face interview on FOX News, Junior Dos Santos predicted he'd knockout his opponent in the second round... And I predict that he is correct. Junior Dos Santos via KO Round 2.
Daniel Cassidy: This is the toughest prediction I've had to make yet. This heavyweight fight features my favorite fighter of all time, two-time champ Frank Mir against one of the most exciting fighters we've seen at 265 lbs – Junior dos Santos. With Mir's exceptional submission skills and tactics, he’s more than a worthy challenger, while Dos Santos possesses a scary hand speed and KO power to knock out anyone. I think everyone agrees that JDS has an advantage in stand-up, just like Frank Mir would be more effective on the ground. However, I know if not met any of you, and this is crazy, but I think Frank Mir wins, via Submission, baby! Frank Mir via Sub in Round 2.
Mike Drahota: It will be very interesting to see how Junior dos Santos responds to all of the media attention surrounding his first title defense. He seems to have adjusted well, with a humble, down-to-earth attitude. Frank Mir has been in the spotlight for some time now, but that most likely will not be enough to gain an advantage over dos Santos. “Cigano” possesses arguably the best boxing in MMA, and the footwork, power, and takedown defense to match. While coming a long way in his quest to be a well-rounded Heavyweight, Frank Mir simply cannot match the striking of dos Santos. Mir will not find it easy to take this fight down to the ground where he holds the perceived advantage. I think this fight has the makings of a quick, brutal battle. I know it's the popular choice, but I still have to go with Junior dos Santos via 1st round (T)KO.
As a bonus here are some predictions from our friends on Twitter and Facebook -
@LowKick_MMA I'm going with my boy Frank he is best when odds are stacked against him!— phil baroni (@philbaroni) May 25, 2012
@LowKick_MMA Primetime and Countdown made me believe Frank has a shot, I'll be pulling for him, but I'd have to pick JDS by TKO Rd 1— Cyril Jeff(@theCyrildotcom) May 25, 2012
@LowKick_Anton Anything can happen in a HW fight. I am picking JDS because I feel his handspeed & take down defense will be too much for Mir— mark miller (@fightshark_com) May 24, 2012
Comments
Wow Anton I can understand a Sub win from Mir but a win by strikes is a very bold and possibly crazy call.
Being a huge Mir fan I'll be rooting for him but I see this fight going no other way than a KO by JDS 1st Rnd.
Anton and Dan picked Mir :-0 shocked, joking guys I want Mir to win as well.
its funny how fighters win people over lol ik you guys have always loved mir but a year ago a lot of fans disliked him
this is directed at the staff member Mike searson, i greatly respect your opinion, however mma math never works, especially when you get the numbers wrong, JDS never KO'ed Carwin, he did outclass him and mess his face up on the way to a unanimous decision. I think people have forgot one thing with JDS he KO's almost every1 in the first round, however of the 3 fights that have gone past the first round he has only 1 KO, which was against cro cop, what does any1 else think? JDS looses his power after round 2? Or are Carwin and Nelson (the other 2 to go past round 1 n 2) have really good chins, better than Mirs? Probably.
Mir is not the most consistent fighter when it comes to cardio, but i dont think JDS has a much bigger tank either.....its an interesting fight if it goes past round 2....before that i think its gonna be JDS via devastating KO
I dunno I think JDS has good cardio, even after blowing his wad trying to finish Carwin in the first he still kept up a high pace and dominated the full 3 rounds.
I have to correct myself my friend just pointed out that cro cop had to bow out of the fight because of an eye injury in round 3.....i just look like a tosser now
JDS has too fast and too deadly punches for Mir to handle because Mir does not have a good chin.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anton picks Frank Mir !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JDS FTW
Yes, that's because I have something against Brazilians :))
Anton!!! What do you have against gorgeous girls in thongs???
Listen Bruce, we respect all sexualities here man.
Sorry to say........
But I gotta go with my man Daniel C., Mir by submission, Round 2.
Never wanted to be wrong so badly......
You will be correct. Sorry.
Did you guys see the fight Mir had with Big Nog? All Nog had to do was keep punching and Mir was done. How is he going to deal with JDS when the man doesn't try to pull a sub? I wish Mir would win because I think it would be more interesting than JDS winning and it might make JDS V Overeem happen sooner but it aint gonna happen.
I think it will be easier for JDS to implement his game plan. In order for Mir to sub Junior, he has to close with him and that is dangerous.
Having said that, I cannot believe the line on Mir is over 5 to 1. Sure, he's the underdog, but that is crazy.
From most of previous fight Frank getting smarter and if come with a good game plan .He's pulls it off this one.imo
Everytime I see your profile picture I start thinking of Gina in a G-String.. 8))
Dos Santos KO'd Carwin? Check your facts buddy.
Of course not Anton...I know you love us!
It is just because you suck at making picks! ; )
I think the odds are in JDS' favor, but I hope JDS isn't buying into his own hype here. I have no idea how some people seem to think Mir's wrestling game hasn't evolved since he fought Lesnar, despite his three round wrestling-heavy domination of Nelson and Carwin's inability to take him down. If JDS goes into this fight not taking Mir seriously I think he'll get taken to the ground and stand up later minus the arm Mir giftwrapped for his wife. If JDS loses, I want it to be because he got beat, not because he was careless or stupid.
I don't remember Carwin attempting a takedown against Mir. I do remember him having absolutely no trouble holding him against the fence and softening him up with dirty boxing and knees until he saw his opening and KTFO'd him.
He tried to drop down for a single after he had Mir against the cage. Mir had no problems stuffing it as soon as it was attempted. It was over about as quick as it started, but cage control was enough for Carwin to put Mir away.
I like Mir but his chin is so suspect I don't think he can even take a solid jab from Jr without being wobbled. Jds round one KO or TKO.
what i dont get is how people say junior is too powerful and Mir as a weak chin....listen, this is the hw division, i would say half of the top 10 hw in the ufc have to cut to make weight...then they put on 4 oz. gloves and fight...everybody in the hw has ko power, if anything its Juniors accuracy that gets the job done...Mir weighed in at 264 lbs, come fight night he'll be hydrated and weighing over 265 with 4 oz. gloves....So if Mir connects with laser accuracy its good night JDS and vice versa as well....accuracy not power especially in the hw division cuz everyone has ko power there...Mir by tko in the 1st, but i wish for a kneebar finish...GO MIR!!!!!!
A flying knee bar would be pretty epic! Seriously though, you make some good points. I have JDS in the pics and as I stated above I really don't see Mir winning but there is the potential for this fight to go EXACTLY like Mir V Kongo.