JDS vs. Mir: Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Following yesterday's news that Alistair Overeem failed his pre-fight drug test prior to a UFC 146 title shot against Junior dos Santos, there seems to be only one other title challenger that makes any sense: Frank Mir.

Mir is the only active top-10 heavyweight fighter riding a three-fight win streak and is coming off a phenomenal submission win over fellow jiu-jitsu stud Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

While Overeem will have a chance to apply for a license in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 24, most have drawn a foregone conclusion that he will not be licensed based on his past issues with the commission.

If this turns out to be the case, let's take a look at the more than likely plan B matchup that would pit JDS against Frank Mir in May.

Striking

While Frank Mir's striking game has come a long way since his UFC debut at UFC 34 over a decade ago, he would be ill-advised to try and trade punches with one of the best MMA boxers in the form of Junior dos Santos.

In 14 career wins, JDS has won 10 bouts by way of knockout, boasting heavy hands, crisp combinations and a particularly devastating uppercut.

Essentially, any fighter who has tried to stand and trade with the powerful Brazilian has come out on the short end of the stick.

Mir is more of a submission specialist, with only three of his 16 career wins coming by way of KO, so it is pretty obvious who has the advantage here.

Advantage: dos Santos

Wrestling

Neither fighter comes from a decorated wrestling background, so this aspect of the fight is a little tricky to call.

The champion will look to keep this fight standing and pick Mir apart with his boxing, while Mir will be looking to bring the fight to the mat and work his slick submission game.

Mir showed much improved wrestling, particularly takedowns, in his one-sided UFC 130 victory over Roy Nelson.

Dos Santos has rarely seen his fights go to the ground, but he actually scored a late takedown against a pretty good MMA wrestler in Shane Carwin in their UFC 131 showdown.

JDS has rarely been in a situation where his opponent could close the distance to shoot a takedown, while Mir has only struggled to stuff the takedowns of former Division I collegiate All-American wrestler Brock Lesnar.

Hard to definitively say who has the advantage here.  
 
Advantage: Push

Jiu-Jitsu

In 16 career wins, Frank Mir has won nine fights by submission. Two of them were Submission of the Year winners: his UFC 81 win via kneebar over Brock Lesnar and his UFC 140 victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

The latter was called the "submission of the century" by UFC President Dana White and saw "Big Nog," a fellow highly decorated BJJ Black belt, get his arm snapped with a vicious kimura.

JDS has won two of his 14 fights by way of submission, but only one was a true submission victory (one was a guillotine choke, while the other had his opponent tap to strikes).

Funny enough, dos Santos is a BJJ brown belt under the Nogueira brothers, so while his jiu-jitsu skills are probably underrated, there is no question who has the upper hand here.

Advantage: Frank Mir

Winner

While this fight could potentially be a lot closer than fans and pundits expect, the reigning UFC champion is just too technically sound of a boxer to allow Frank Mir to close the distance on him and bring the fight to the ground.  

Mir may be able to pick his shots and make "Cigano" work for a little while, but in the end, there is little doubt that the 12 pounds of gold will stay around the waist of Junior dos Santos.

I wouldn't bet on the Blackhouse MMA product losing the title anytime soon.

Junior dos Santos via second round KO