UFC
Frank Mir says his stand-up is better than ever, Nogueira contends his boxing is still much better
Dec 9, 2011 - 8:29:22 PM Frank Mir says his stand-up is better than ever, Nogueira contends his boxing is still much better

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BY WADE KELLER, MMATORCH SUPERVISING EDITOR

The following are key quotes from the preview video on our website, www.MMATorch.com, as part of the USA Today UFC Media Group:

Joe Rogan: "In the first fight, Frank Mir devastated Noguiera. Really one of the best performances if not the best of Frank Mir's career and a real sign that Frank Mir's new-found dedication and his hard work had really paid off."

Frank Mir: "I just want to go out there and be the best fighter I can be. I'm going out there and performing like we've never fought before. He's still very dangerous. He's not to be underestimated."

Rogan: "The Frank Mir we saw against Nogueira, the Frank Mir we saw against Cheick Kongo, that Frank Mir is one of the most dangerous guys in the heavyweight division. And, really, he's still very young in his career, especially as a heavyweight."

Mir: "Look at my stand up now. Now I'm standing with Mirko Cro Cop, I'm knocking Cheick Kongo on his butt with strikes. I'm a much more accomplished striker now than I was then."

Rogan: "For Noguiera, the first fight was a huge, huge disappointment and a devastating defeat. But Minotauro is one of the very best fighters in the world, and he's coming off the impressive victory over Brendan Schaub and he looked absolutely devastating."

Rogan: "When (Noguiera) won the interim title against Tim Sylvia, he looked outstanding. He looked fantastic in his fight against Randy Couture."

Mir: "That guillotine of his doesn't get the respect it deserves."

Noguiera: "I have a chance to take him down. If that happens, I'm gonna show him I'm better than him on the ground."

Rogan on Noguiera: "He's a very dangerous guy and a real legend in mixed martial arts."

Mir: "I don't look for a submission. I don't look for the takedown. If I can keep myself in position and keep him out of position, then I will win the fight."

Rogan: "Minotauro is going to be very, very motivated for this fight against Frank Mir."

Mir: "He's had 40 fights, and he's showing he's also evolving and changing as a martial artist, even at this stage of his career."

Rogan: "Minotauro is going to be very motivated for this fight against Frank Mir."

Mir: "I do feel he's going to look to crowd me and push me against the cage and make this more of a dirty boxing if we are exchanging strikes. It's going to be a grinding battle."

Noguiera: "He thinks this will be the same. It won't be the same. He's not going to hit me. He's going to get hit in this fight."

Keller's Analysis: Mir talks with reverence, yet confidence, about facing Nogueira at this stage of both of their careers. Noguiera does sound like he feels he has something to prove here. Mir is hoping to get back into a title picture and get a huge payday in a main event title fight on Fox or PPV. Noguiera is looking to avenge a loss and prove he's still relevant near the top of the division and avenge his defeat at the hands of Mir. Both fighters have something to fight for, and it comes across here, although there's no sense of any bad blood or the trash-talking that is common with Mir against other opponents.