Interim Title Bout Announced For UFC 111

With the recent news of the interim title announced, it begs the question when the champion will ever make his much anticipated return. While the future of current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar remains unclear after being sidelined with a severe case of diverticulitis, the UFC's heavyweight division must move forward with plans to crown an interim titleholder.

Frank Mir is set to face one of the behemoths in the UFC's heavyweight division and No.1 contender, Shane Carwin. The fight is set to take place at UFC 111 on March 27 in Newark, N.J.

Mir is coming off a most impressive victory over dangerous striker Cheick Kongo, whom Mir submitted in astounding fashion only 72 seconds into the fight. Frank was aware that he needed a convincing victory in order to get put right back into the title picture after being mauled into a TKO stoppage in the second round at the hands of Brock Lesnar during UFC 100.

Carwin was scheduled to face Lesnar for the recently unified UFC Heavyweight Championship on Nov 21 at UFC 106, but Lesnar's illness caused the fight to be re-scheduled to UFC 108, January 2nd. Due to the continuing health issues of the reigning champion, the once most anticipated fight of the year has been scratched completely.

The Colorado native has not fought since UFC 96 back in March, when the Division II wrestling champion KO'd former title contender, Gabriel Gonzaga with sheer power.

Carwin has compiled a perfect 11-0 record in his MMA career (UFC 3-0). Both Mir and Carwin are no strangers to bouts finishing just after they start and shall prove to be quite a match up.

Carwin is yet to get passed the first round in his career and Mir maybe the person to make this happen and even possibly pose as the only loss on Carwin's résumé.

Mir has described Shane as a "Brock Lesnar, but better!" Shane has also spoken in respect of Mir's career, "Mir is a legend of the sport and I would be honoured to fight him."

Mir has respectively gained 20-25 pounds in order to compete with the new, bigger heavyweights that are emerging into the UFC, Carwin being one of them. This will be a perfect opportunity for Mir to put his extra weight to the test, using it to his advantage also if he is able to compete intensely without suffering from severe fatigue.

Whoever emerges victorious in the interim title clash at UFC 111 will likely be next in line to face Brock Lesnar when he is rumoured to return in July 2010.