The heavyweight division has long been considered the darling of combat sports fans. The idea of larger than average men pounding away on each other keeps fans coming back for more. Unfortunately, both the boxing and mixed martial arts heavyweight weight classes have been very stagnant, regardless of what promoters will tell you. Looking towards the UFC 164 pay-per-view card this Saturday, it’s clear that the promotion needs both Frank Mir and Josh Barnett to have a great showing in their co-main event matchup. However, a successful showing by the main who calls himself “The Warmaster” carries much more weight.
Frank Mir has been one of the top heavyweights in the sport for the better part of a decade. He’s remained ranked within the top ten or top fifteen for years. But since he returned in 2006 from the motorcycle accident that threatened his whole career, he’s had a few up and down streaks. When he loses, however, it’s always to guys who are worthy of carrying the UFC strap. He’s a former world champion and a fan favorite who knows how to sell a fight. Unfortunately, right now it is hard to see him defeating any of the men at the top of the division — especially when most of them have already battered him around the Octagon.
A former UFC heavyweight champion in his own right, Barnett has become a cult hero of sorts within the MMA world. Whether it’s his way of making his grappling style seem exciting, or his penchant for pro wrestling style open workouts and promo speeches, he’s grown to become beloved by the fans that once shunned him. Still, the UFC will need him to win and win convincingly against Mir for the promotion to make use of his hype, and position him as a contender.
The UFC’s lack of contenders is why the promotion needs Barnett to win this coming Saturday. Beyond Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne, the division does not have the pool of potential title challengers that is present in nearly every other weight class. Having Barnett win gives the UFC the opportunity to promote a new name who may not be as popular with the mainstream fanbase. Barnett does have a following, but that is mostly made up of fans that consume MMA more than the casual viewer does. However, a victory this weekend could quickly put Barnett on their radar, and change Barnett’s standing within the weight class.
The UFC will never openly root for one fighter over another. However, better business moves do often hinge on one fighter finding a way to defeat another. This weekend’s co-main event bout between Josh Barnett and Frank Mir is yet another example of the UFC being positioned to benefit from one fighter winning, because of the opportunity to create another big name for the company to promote. And surprisingly, that name is “The Warmaster.”
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• Frank Mir vs. Josh Barnett
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UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis II (formerly UFC 164: Henderson vs. Grant) is due to take place on August 31, 2013 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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