This Saturday, two former UFC Heavyweight Champions will lock horns.  Josh Barnett lost the title in 2002 to a positive drug test, Mir in 2009 to Brock Lesnar.  That’s a combined 16 years since either man held gold.  After losing unimpressively to Daniel Cormier, I officially wrote off Mir as a gatekeeper. Barnett’s been fighting inferior competition for the past five years, but other than a loss to Cormier, he’s won them all.  Mir is coming off two straight losses.  After Saturday, we should see one of two things.  Is Mir on his way out, or will he continue to guard the Heavyweight gates?  Only time will tell.  In the meantime, let’s look back at Mir’s last fight and the possible futures ahead…

On April 20th, 2013, UFC veteran Frank Mir welcomed Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion and UFC newcomer, Daniel Cormier, to the Octagon.  Mir aimed to expose the quality gap between UFC and non-UFC talent while Cormier looked to solidify his place amongst the MMA elite.

April 20, 2013
UFC 7 on Fox
Frank Mir vs. Daniel Cormier
Cormier def. Mir via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

“A Mir Formality”

At this point in time
Mir is well past his prime—
He now is a keeper of gates

He’ll still notch some wins
Via nap or a tap
But he won’t be defeating the greats

I feel rather bad
For the sport’s former champ—
He could have done more with his clock

But after he bulked
For his tussles with Brock
He moved like a handicapped rock

With of all that muscle
Attached to his frame
His cardio suffered in spades

The new generation
Of 265s
Are trained to be Jacks of all Trades

So strikers like Santos
Will win with their speed
And wrestlers will grind him away

Or future opponents
Can follow the plan
Perfected by D-Cormier

There’re still several fights
I’d be happy to see—
He’s got plenty left in the tank

But sadly, I fear,
He is done coming near
The #1 Heavyweight rank