Saturday night’s (Feb. 1, 2014) UFC 169 event featured a heavyweight bout between Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem that saw Overeem pound Mir over the course of three rounds to earn the victory. This was a battle of two fighters heading in different directions in the rankings, with Overeem getting back on track and Mir falling off the edge of the table. Atop the wight class sits champion Cain Velasquez, who will not be back until late this year due to surgery on his shoulder. His opponent upon his return will likely come from the match between Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne scheduled for April 19th. Also sitting above Overeem in the rankings are Daniel Cormier (who is heading to Light Heavyweight), Josh Barnett and Junior Dos Santos. Overeem had absorbed two losses in a row, so he needed the win to stop his fall in the rankings. He is sitting in a pack that includes the likes of Mark Hunt and Stipe Miocic and needs another win, preferably a big one, to be considered among the elite heavyweights again. Despite long runs in both Japan and Strikeforce together, Overeem has never fought Josh Barnett before. Barnett is coming off a loss to Travis Browne that saw him last just one minute, but prior to that had a fast finish over Mir on his resume. Overeem versus Barnett may be the next logical choice, though I’d prefer to see Barnett get Dos Santos next. That would leave Overeem with a potential rematch with Mark Hunt, who he submitted via keylock in about one minute back in Dream. This time, I don’t think Overeem would get out that easy against Hunt. Mir should retire, it’s that simple. Mir is well-spoken and he has made good money in the UFC. He should quit while he’s ahead. He has shown some talent as a commentator and could be an on air personality with the UFC, despite past attempts that havent fully worked out. Even if you throw the loss to Josh Barnett out as a flash or fast stoppage, Mir has 30 minutes and 6 rounds against Cormier and now Overeem where he was unable to mount any offense. He has really slowed down, but the UFC is likely to keep him around. It was mentioned that Daniel Cormier was heading to the Light Heavyweight division, but he could return to Heavyweight by the end of 2014, and he could be bringing UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones along with him. That influx of talent to start off next year will give the UFC a chance to clean out talent like Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera, whose best days are behind them, but we will likely see Mir at least once more in the UFC Octagon.
