The UFC celebrates its 20th anniversary in November with a pay-per-view event in Las Vegas that has just gotten more stacked thanks to a pair of heavyweights.
Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir (16-8, 14-8 UFC) and former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem (36-13, 1-2 UFC) will square off at UFC 167 in a pivotal heavyweight bout as both men look to put an end to frustrating losing streaks. UFC officials confirmed the bout on Thursday, which was first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Mir has lost three straight fights and is coming off a controversial knockout loss to Josh Barnett at this past weekend’s UFC 164 event. Mir was knocked down with a knee from Barnett, and the bout was quickly stopped despite Mir popping right back up and protesting the stoppage. Nonetheless, it follows losses that Mir suffered to Junior Dos Santos and Daniel Cormier, and now his UFC career could be on the line against Overeem.
The same could be said for Overeem as he looks to end a two-fight losing skid. He was knocked out by Antonio Silva at UFC 156 in February, and again by Travis Browne at UFC Fight Night 26 last month in Boston. He was dominant early in both fights, and came very close to finishing Browne, before fading in both fights. Prior to the two losses, Overeem debuted in the UFC with a win over Brock Lesnar, and it had been over five years since Overeem had lost before the Silva encounter.
UFC 167 takes place on Nov. 16 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs on pay-per-view. UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre defends the title against Johny Hendricks in the night’s main event.
The current UFC 167 card includes:
- Georges St. Pierre(c) vs. Johny Hendricks (UFC Welterweight Championship)
- Chael Sonnen vs. Rashad Evans
- Alistair Overeem vs. Frank Mir
- Rory MacDonald vs. Robbie Lawler
- Josh Koscheck vs. Tyron Woodley
