Mir/Carwin for interim title...........

[The Ravishing One]

On Wednesday it was made public that the UFC is looking to book an interim heavyweight title fight between former champ Frank Mir (13-4) and top challenger, Shane Carwin (11-0).

Carwin noted from his personal website, shane-carwin.com, that he would “be fighting in Newark, N.J. at UFC 111. I have not signed any contracts yet but I have told my manager to inform UFC matchmaker that ‘I accept the offer.’”

Former heavyweight title holder Mir talked to the Las Vegas Sun saying that no one has approached him about the fight but he would agree if the offer was made.

“Nothing is official yet, I’m reading the Internet too and trying to call the UFC,” Mir said. “I will agree to it if it comes up. I just think people were talking and it made sense but nothing is official. They haven’t talked to me yet but I don’t know if somebody with the UFC has leaked it out.”

“I think it’s the only thing that makes sense,” Mir said. “Carwin is up there, I’m up there. There’s four top heavyweights that could vie for an interim belt and two of them are fighting already. So putting me and Carwin together just makes mathematical sense.”

“The only part that was a surprise to me was that it could be for an interim belt,” Mir said. “Last I heard, I was sitting next to Dana at the (UFC 107) post-fight press conference when he said we’re going to wait for 4-to-6 weeks to find out whether or not Brock’s going to be able to return or not.”

If this proves to be more rumor than truth you can expect the buzz that this matchup has created will help push UFC president Dana White into making this fight official.

Source: The LasVegasSun.com

[Impact!]

I've been hearing that it's more like an interim title qualifier...more likely that the winner of Mir V Carwin will fight the winner of Nogueira V Cain for the interim title. Depending on what happens with Lesnar of course.

[The Ravishing One]

I hear Lesner is looking at a possible July return.

[Impact!]

I think that's what his coaches have been saying. Would be nice to see him back.

[The Ravishing One]

Never thought id want to see that shit dagger again so much.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

I want hopefully Nog and Mir win respectively, so we can get Nog/Mir II with a healthy Nog.

[Innovator]

I might have to go to Newark for this, along with GSP vs. Hardy

[The Show Off]

I think it's bullshit that Carwin gets a interim title shot the interim title should go to the Nog/Velasquez winner. Carwin has only beaten one Top 20 heavyweight and that was Gonzaga who I love but hasn't shown himself to be great in big matches. On the other hand Velasquez has recently beaten Kongo and Rothwell, admittedly neither of those guys are at the level of Gonzaga but its two quality wins.

If it's true that Lesnar will be back around July then making a interim title isn't necessary...

Have Nog/Cain fight in February

Have Mir/Carwin fight in March

Whoever wins more convincingly (devistating KO or Submission) gets Lesnar in July. Easy as that.

Their would be something annoying about Mir/Lesnar Unification bout in July 2009, and then Mir/Lesnar Unification bout in July 2010

[What Would Kevin Do?]

The only reason Carwin is being considered is because he was suppose to fight Lesnar to begin with.

I honestly just want to see a Nog/Lesnar fight.

[Reavant]

I think it's bullshit that Carwin gets a interim title shot the interim title should go to the Nog/Velasquez winner. Carwin has only beaten one Top 20 heavyweight and that was Gonzaga who I love but hasn't shown himself to be great in big matches. On the other hand Velasquez has recently beaten Kongo and Rothwell, admittedly neither of those guys are at the level of Gonzaga but its two quality wins.

If it's true that Lesnar will be back around July then making a interim title isn't necessary...

Have Nog/Cain fight in February

Have Mir/Carwin fight in March

Whoever wins more convincingly (devistating KO or Submission) gets Lesnar in July. Easy as that.

Their would be something annoying about Mir/Lesnar Unification bout in July 2009, and then Mir/Lesnar Unification bout in July 2010

How is it bull shit that carwin gets so much attention? He was supposed to get the next title shot anyway.

[Savio]

I would not be to excited for Lesnar/Mir 3

[The Show Off]

How is it bull shit that carwin gets so much attention? He was supposed to get the next title shot anyway.

Don't get me wrong at the time he was selected to get the title shot with Brock I thought he was the most deserving contender for Brock's belt. However, by no fault of Carwin's own, in the meanwhile Nog has beaten Couture and Cain added Rothwell to his win column along with Kongo who he beat before Carwin was named the contender.

I think because of events that occured in the interim Velasquez is now the most deserving contender. Ideally Cain would fight Shane but that's not the case Cain is fighting Nog and I think based on records those are the two that should be fighting for an interim title.

This all being said Mir/Carwin isn't "bullshit" perhaps I was a little too strong with my hyperbole. I just thing Velasquez/Nogueira is more deserving.

However the funny thing is that Dos Santos is the guy that should be number one contender. He's beaten Werdum, Struve, and Cro Cop in the UFC. Werdum is better than anyone Cain or Carwin have fought. I think that if Dos Santos beats Yvel he should get the first shot if Brock isn't healthy by the Summer.

[Impact!]

I believe Dos Santos has said he doesn't want to fight for the title while Nogueira is still in contention for it.

[Vastardikai]

I would not be to excited for Lesnar/Mir 3

I can't see anything in Lesnar/Mir 3 that'd be any different from Lesnar/Mir 2 or Lesnar/Mir 1 before the bullshit stand-up.

IOW, Lesnar on top, raping Mir's face with his fist.

[Reavant]

Maybe other than the fact that mir has bulked up 20 pounds and maybe actually somewhat strong enough to move a bit on the bottom

[Dave Youell]

Nog/Lesnar would be the best outcome for me personally

[Stickman]

Nog/Lesnar would be the best outcome for me personally

[Vastardikai]

Nog/Lesnar would be the best outcome for me personally

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Nog/Lesnar would be the best outcome for me personally

[Savio]

Nog/Lesnar would be the best outcome for me personally

[Mr. C]

I think because of events that occured in the interim Velasquez is now the most deserving contender. Ideally Cain would fight Shane but that's not the case Cain is fighting Nog and I think based on records those are the two that should be fighting for an interim title.

I’m an advocate against creating interim titles. They do nothing for the division and mean nothing. I can understand why they did it back when Andrei Arlovski was the champion because they weren’t sure if Frank Mir was ever going to be able to even walk again, but if a guy is going to for sure be out for a year, then just strip the dude, but if you know the guy isn’t going to be out for more than six and a half months, what’s the point?

Shogun had surgery that will keep him out the rest of the year and won the belt back in May, but still, why create an interim title? If someone can’t defend it for more than a year, they should strip them of the title, but give them a title shot in their first match back; put it into whatever contract that they have to defend at least once every 12 months and a fight needs to be scheduled with a few months to spare.