News and notes from around the MMA world …

- Frank Mir talks about how he’s going to beat Brock Lesnar.

- Adam Swift says that UFC 81 is getting the pro wrestling push.

- Dave Meltzer chronicles how well amateur wrestling champions have done in MMA.

- ESPN’s podcast center now lists Sherdog’s podcast.

- Could this be what The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 has to offer?

Talking Points

You have to give it to Dana White. He’s made Brock Lesnar’s debut into something that has a lot going for it. It’s the pro wrestler vs. the mixed martial artist and MMA fans do not want to see Lesnar win. Lesnar is playing it up perfectly as well. He’s the guy that doesn’t care that Mir is a former champion or that Mir broke Tim Sylvia’s arm. It just doesn’t matter to him. He just thinks he’s too big and too strong and will run rough shot over the heavyweight division. I’m sure that he respects the division and probably doesn’t really think it’s going to be easy, but that’s how you promote. That’s how you make a fight noteworthy.

The UFC has to want Lesnar to be victorious. He’s the one guy with star power in a division that has quality fighters, but none with real star power now that Randy Couture is gone. If Mir wins, he’ll get one more shot at Sylvia, but unless he truly dedicates himself to the sport and gets in shape, he’s simply going to be the former champion. With Lesnar, you have a guy who is probably at his athletic peak, who according to those in the know, picks up everything like a sponge. He has a good future ahead of him as long as he keeps improving and is a great story. He’s a legit amateur wrestling star who became a pro wrestling star and left pro wrestling while at the top of his game. He tried out for the NFL and with no college experience, made it through nearly all the cuts with the Minnesota Vikings before starting in MMA. Only Frank Mir right now, stands in his way.

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