Talking with Steve Cofield this week, interim UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir insisted that opponent Brock Lesnar’s size would be more a liability than anything in their July 11 unification bout.
That’s true much -- but not all -- of the time. Lesnar showed no signs of fatigue during a three-round decision over Heath Herring last August. But to be fair, he wasn’t being asked to perform any muscle-contracting anaerobic work: Herring wasn’t going to make him fend off a takedown.
I don’t see this fight being substantially different than their first affair, save for Mir having some idea of what to expect in terms of Lesnar’s agility. Mir can win this fight anywhere, but it’s Lesnar’s strongest position -- on top and pounding -- that plays right into Mir’s game. If Mir can submit a jiu-jitsu black belt in Roberto Traven, I don’t think Lesnar and his two years of submission defense is going to avoid a bear trap.