A heavyweight match-up of every hardcore fans dreams has been booked for August 31, as newly signed UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett will take on former heavyweight champion Frank Mir.
UFC officials announced the match-up via their official Twitter account on Wednesday.
#UFC164 gets a heavyweight clash of entertainers – @thefrankmir vs @joshlbarnett! Tix now on pre-sale ticketmaster.com/ufc-164-milwau… #HD110 #MKE
— UFC (@ufc) May 30, 2013
Barnett (32-6) has not fought in the UFC since 2002 when he won the heavyweight championship against Randy Couture, but was later stripped due to a failed drug test. He then went on to fight for numerous organizations including PRIDE, DREAM, Impact FC and most recently Strikeforce.
He was a favorite to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, but came up short against underdog and late replacement Daniel Cormier. He then went on to fight Nandor Guelmino at the final Strikeforce event and won in easy fashion.
Mir (16-7) is currently on a two-fight losing streak. At UFC 146 he stepped up on short notice to take on Junior dos Santos for the heavyweight championship and was stopped in the second round by TKO. He then went on to face Daniel Cormier at UFC on FOX 7 in April and was dominated for three rounds to lose a decision.
The 34-year old fighter won the UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 48 against Tim Sylvia and later vacated the title due to a motorcycle accident he was in. He made his way back in to title contention and won the interim heavyweight championship on two different occasions, but was unable to unify the title with the champion. Mir has fought all but two of his fights under the UFC banner.
UFC 164 is scheduled to take place on August 31st, 2013 in Milwaukee, WI. The event will also feature Clay Guida vs. Chad Mendes, as well as Brandon Vera vs. Ben Rothwell, marking Vera’s return to heavyweight.
