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Mir not worthy of headline status after victory

Frank Mir and Mirko Cro Cop enjoyed a conversation whilst they clinched against the cage © Getty Images

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History has proven that a fight with less relevance often gives competitors the freedom to perform to their maximum potential. Such bouts give fighters the opportunity to compete at the highest level, while being under significantly less pressure than when a world title awaits the winner. The result is often an out-and-out war for observing fans.

Saturday night the UFC hit Indianapolis with a stacked card for UFC 119. Topping the bill was the heavyweight clash between ex-UFC champion Frank Mir and former PRIDE star Mirko Cro Cop. For both men the fight was a must-win should either be serious in making a genuine run at the UFC heavyweight title - but it held no real significance to the standing of the division at the present time.

While such stakes did not appear high enough to warrant main event status, there was a feeling that two legends of MMA would subsequently deliver an entertaining battle for the Indianapolis crowd.

However, such predictions were very quickly realised as being just that: predictions. Mir and Cro Cop put on the most lacklustre performance seen by either of them in years, drawing deserved boos from the expectant crowd.

Mir understandably didn't want to leave himself open to the Croatian's trademark head-kick, but he also made little attempt of making a ground fight out of things. A bland opening two rounds ensued, drawing boos from the spectators, and at one point during the fight the two men were clearly engaged in conversation - while pressed against the cage - which saw Cro Cop raise a wry smile before the non-action continued.

Going into round three, Mir was edging things on the cards; and as the 14-minute mark - of what felt like a gentle Sunday morning sparring session - approached, he landed a knee flush on the Croatian's chin. A minute to spare on the clock and suddenly Mir was sparked into life as his killer instinct returned to pounce on Cro Cop, landing a couple more blows to bring an end to the tedium.

At one point during the third round Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg - clearly unimpressed with the action - summed the situation up perfectly: "Who's winning?" asked Goldberg, to which Rogan responded, "Not the fans." Thankfully, for those fans, the sole knockout of this three hour broadcast arrived and the final frame of the evening was full of action, with Cro Cop leaving himself exposed and Mir only too happy to opt for the vicious knockout over an uninspired judges' decision.

While the win doesn't instantly throw Mir back into the title picture, it takes him a step closer to being back into the mix. Cro Cop should now look at permanent retirement after threatening it after almost every one of his UFC fights. He took the fight on short notice, stepping in to replace the injured Minotauro Nogueira, who had been looking to settle the score for his first career stoppage loss that he suffered at the hands of Mir back at UFC 92.

That particular rematch is still something that holds some significance, due to the circumstances that surrounded their last fight when Nogueira claimed his preparation was severely disrupted by a staph infection; and at the same time it would decide which of these two ground warriors is still relevant on the ever-evolving heavyweight scene.

While Mir vs. Nogueira II is not worthy of topping a bill, particularly after last night's main event, it still would serve as an ideal co-main event for any of the shows in early 2011. On last night's showing Mir is not ready to be thrown back in with any of the top four in the division, and may have to overcome another veteran or two before he finds himself in an eliminator with any of the division's top contenders.

Chris Park is mmatorch.com's UK specialist. To visit mmatorch.com, click here.

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