Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Mir, Carwin to fight for interim UFC title
The organization has put together an interim heavyweight title bout between No. 1 contender Shane Carwin and former champ Frank Mir.
Carwin on Wednesday wrote on his official website that he will return to action at UFC 111 on March 27 in Newark, N.J. Already confirmed for UFC 111 is a welterweight title bout between champion Georges St. Pierre from Quebec City and Dan Hardy.
"I have not signed any contracts yet but I have told my manager to inform (the) UFC matchmaker that 'I accept the offer,' " wrote Carwin.
"I will have been out of the Octagon for about a year when this fight happens but I expect to be in the best shape of my life."
Carwin had been scheduled to fight Lesnar for the heavyweight title at UFC 106 in November, but that was delayed after Lesnar was diagnosed with mononucleosis. The match was bumped to UFC 108 in January but put on hold indefinitely after Lesnar was diagnosed with diverticulitis, a serious intestinal disorder.
There is still no timeline on when or even if Lesnar will return to action.
White said last weekend at UFC 107 in Memphis that he would likely know within the next six weeks whether Lesnar will require major surgery.
Carwin said he hopes "to someday get the opportunity to punch Brock a few times and hope he has a speedy and full recovery," but at the same time, he is looking "forward to fighting again. Fighting is what I love to do.
"I have a ton of respect for my proposed opponent," he continued. "He has a good standup game and can be effective on the ground. The only way to become the best fighter is to continually challenge yourself against the best fighters in the world.
"Mir is a multiple-time champion who has been counted out more than Mike Tyson only to find himself right back at the top. He is a legend of the sport and I would be honoured to fight him."
Mir dominated Cheick Kongo at UFC 107, needing just 1:12 to earn a submission win. He has made no secret of his desire to face Lesnar again; Mir won their first meeting in February 2008 while Lesnar won the rematch in July.
"I showed that I could rebound from a bad loss," Mir said after his win over Kongo.
"I had all the pressure on me. Another loss would have been devastating to my career."
He knows Carwin would present a big challenge.
"Shane Carwin, he's a better Brock Lesnar than Brock Lesnar."
-- Canwest News Service
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 17, 2009 C8
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Other Sports
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- Should the federal government be spending $7.5 million on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?
- Slain woman appears before jury on video
- CNN's Roland Martin suspended for comments that sparked protest by gays
- Driver of van in Ontario crash that killed 11 ran stop sign, police say
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- OMG! Candy kings back at it
- Task force to review 2011 flood
- Winnipeg software company ranked top employer
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Lesson about war, power told with Shaw's comic touch
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Easy, economical, healthy soup
- Original Joe's, Elephant & Castle expanding
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Time, it appears, is on Assad's side
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Local shooting spoofed on SNL
- The cost of calories: It's expensive to eat healthily
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.