Frank Mir: "[Compared to Lesnar], Carwin is more dangerous for me."

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Frank Mir is anticipating a tough fight when he steps into the Octagon with Shane Carwin at UFC 111 to fight for the UFC interim heavyweight title.

The winner of the match will also earn the right to face current champ Brock Lesnar for the belt, but Mir feels that in some ways, Carwin will prove to be an even bigger challenge than Lesnar to overcome. 

"I think he's very similar to Brock Lesnar," Mir stated told MMAjunkie.com. "He's somebody that's strong, and he's a good wrestler. But I think that Carwin, in a lot of ways, is actually more dangerous for me. Brock and Carwin are both better wrestlers than I am. Most likely, they'll both be able to take me down. Most likely, they'll both be able to win the fight if I get stuck against the cage on my back with my head jammed up. But, with that being said, with Lesnar, on my feet, I have no real anxiety about standing there and boxing. He's knocked people over because he clubs people with his hands, but he's not really a knockout artist. Carwin has actually knocked people out."

If he gets the chance to face Lesnar again, Mir sees the fight as being fairly predictable. Against Carwin, he feels he will have to be much more cautious in the striking game.

"In a fight with Lesnar, the goal is to keep it on the feet, and I'll win the fight," Mir said. "With Carwin, if I say just keep it on my feet, and I fall asleep on him while looking for the shot, I can easily go to sleep if I get caught. He's shown the ability to knock people out. To me, he's a dual threat."

Mir also addressed the possibility of being unable to face Lesnar without delay should he defeat Carwin, but suffer an injury in the process. The idea that the winner of Mir vs. Carwin might be injured and unable to meet Lesnar in a timely fashion has been receiving an unprecedented amount of attention in the buildup to their fight.

However, UFC president Dana White has made it clear that in the event of an injury, top contender Cain Velasquez is standing by as an alternate.

Mir says he understands if he has to wait for his chance.

"The competitor in me wants to face Lesnar as soon as possible and be the first one in line," Mir said. "As far as if it worked out, I don't feel like holding the heavyweight division hostage. If after, if I'm victorious on March 27, and I had an injury that didn't allow me to fight, and Brock wants to take a risk to fight Cain first before he fights me, more power to him."