by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Feb 10, 2012 at 9:15 am ET According to UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, former UFC heavyweight champions Frank Mir (16-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) and Cain Velasquez (9-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) are on a collision course, while familiar foes and former light heavyweight champs Forrest Griffin (18-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) and Tito Ortiz are in line for a trilogy bout. Fertitta revealed the planned matchups overnight via Twitter. No date for either fight was revealed. Mir currently boasts a three-fight win streak that includes a gruesome submission win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at this past December's UFC 140 event. Mir's run also includes a May 2011 decision win over Roy Nelson, as well as a September 2010 knockout of Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. Mir, who won the UFC's heavyweight title in 2004 before a motorcycle accident forced him to vacate the belt, also won an interim title in 2008. He's 7-2 in his past nine fights, but both losses have come to wrestling stylists in the form of Shane Carwin and Brock Lesnar. Meanwhile, Velasquez looks to rebound from a November loss, in which he surrendered the UFC title to Junior Dos Santos at the UFC's first-ever FOX-televised event. The defeat was the first of Velasquez's career, a run that included nine-straight wins to open his career, including seven fights in the octagon. Ortiz, who made his MMA debut in 1997 as a brash 22-year-old at UFC 13, has the most fights in UFC history (26), the most light-heavyweight title defenses in the promotion's history (five), and the longest current service time in the UFC. He was also the sport's biggest star during a pivotal return to pay-per-view and an eventual move into the mainstream. Ortiz is just 1-6-1 in his past eight fights, though a July 2011 upset of Ryan Bader brought about a brief resurgence. However, with losses to some of the division's elite – Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – few meaningful fights remain. However, he can think of one, and he and his would-be opponent have campaigned for it on Twitter. Ortiz wants it, and fellow ex-champ Griffin verbally accepted the challenge on a recent airing of HDNet's "Inside MMA." Ortiz won the first meeting via split decision at UFC 59, and Griffin won the second one (also via split decision) at UFC 106.
I think it's last fight. I thought he said something about wanting this to be his last fight win or lose.
Mir vs. Velazques is actually kinda easy to call IMO. Mir usually just turtles up against relentless fighters with a good top game. Even though its possible to see a sub of Mir from his back, I think Cain will wear him down and stop him late. Griffin vs. Ortiz is just shit.
Very possible, however I bet Cain realized that he fell too much in love with his boxing after beating on 2 punching bags in Brock and Big Nog. I bet he goes back to his wrestling roots in this one.
I wouldn't count on Cain being able to throw Mir around in the wrestling game. To me Cain can win this easily on his feet by just wearing Mir down. Mir has zero mental toughness and Cain can make him quit.
You'll probably still get it if JDS beat Overeem in May and Cain beats Mir. I expect both will happen. In the meantime, JDS-Overeem is a great match-up.
Mir/Cain makes perferct sense for the #1 contendership. Ortiz/Griffin is just awful, It's like making a trilogy of John Ruiz/Fres Oquendo fight. You just don't do that. The fight will be boring just like first two were I have zero interst in it and it better not co-main event and sure as hell not main event anything. If this fight is 3rd from the top of the card I won't mind it THAT much.
Ortiz is just getting this fight as a parting gift from the UFC. He's done after this. Cain vs Mir is an interesting fight. I think Cain knocks him out.
I have recently kind of jumped back on the Mir bandwagon. Not sure it will happen, but I'm picking Mir win. Good fight to make either way. Winner should definitely get the title shot from Overeem/JDS, is that set in stone? I didn't read through the whole thing. Loser would matchup nice against Werdum.
REED is a Frank Mir FAN, but he's in Over his Head in this 1... Cain Velasquez Succumbed to the Pressure of Being a Champion, Making his 1st Defense on National Television, Coming Off a Loooooooooong Layoff...His Body was SOFTER than Usual & he Seemed Tentative During the Ringwalk & Intro's, in REED's Opinion... REED Fully Expects Cain to RIGHT the Ship vs. Mir & Earn a RE w/JDS, where he'll Give a Much Better Account of Himself... REED
I tend to agree with you. But I've watched that punch a few times, its somewhat of a glancing blow. Now I know JDS has nice hands, but something tells me that Cain might suffer from the same problem Brock does. No idea how to take a punch.
velasquez can't beat jds. even if he somehow takes him down, jds will get back up and knock him out. when they're standing, cain has zero edge aside from going for a double leg.
JDS definitely has the better stand up. We still have yet to see what he can do off his back. Cain didn't last long enough to give him much of a test and he hasn't really fought any good wrestlers.
Cain has pretty much a glass jaw. Everytime he's been hit good, he's either wobbled (like everytime Kongo caught him with a good punch) or starched. He's still a quality fighter though and his matchup with Mir is pretty exciting and one I expect him to win. Oritiz-Griffin III is simply uninteresting garbage
These are my thoughts too. From everything I have seen, Cain doesn't react well to getting hit. That punch from JDS was a glancing blow above and behind the ear. Not saying it didn't hurt, I just didn't expect him to straight turtle up like that.
The problem with Cain is that his striking was grossly overrated. He knocks out Nog who is a zombie now and Brock who has the worst standup ever, and suddenly Can has great standup. JDS simply put everything back in perspective.
