Creature vs. Creature: Frank Mir Will Submit Shane Carwin at UFC 111

It’s that time once again fight fanatics for two writers to square—off in a battle for Bleacher Report supremacy.

For this edition of “Creature vs. Creature”, up and coming writer, Colton Whittemore, and I will debate the ground shaking battle of heavyweight monsters that is set to take place at UFC 111.

For some reason young Mr. Whittemore seems to believe that heavy—hitting Shane Carwin has what it takes to win the UFC Interim Heavyweight title and punch his ticket to face Brock Lesnar.

While it's sad to say, this young man is sorely mistaken, because not only will Frank Mir add another title belt to his collection—setting up a showdown with his nemesis, Brock Lesnar—but he will do so with an impressive and painful submission.

It’s not that Carwin isn’t a talented fighter—far from it. But, in my opinion there are just too many unanswered questions surrounding just how good Carwin truly is at this point.

We all know he can punch a hole through a brick wall and we are all very aware of the fighters that Carwin is surrounded by on a day—to—day basis, but that does little to answer all our questions.

Having never been past the first round, how will Carwin’s cardio hold up against a former champion after the first round?

How’s Carwin going to handle a BJJ practitioner of Mir’s caliber?

How effective will Carwin’s powerful, yet robotic, strikes compete with a more fluid and technical boxer?

The answer to all is quite simple—Carwin won’t be able to.

While we have all these unanswered questions about Carwin, we know exactly what Frank Mir is made of and we know what kind of weapons he brings to the Octagon for every fight.

Standing will be where Carwin is the most dangerous, but he is so stiff with his movements Mir will be able to get out of the way. If a K1 level striker like Cheick Kongo has difficulty contending with Mir’s new and improved boxing, Carwin has no chance at all.

On the ground, Mir’s grappling is light years ahead Carwin’s. Yes, Carwin is a big and powerful former Division II National Champion wrestler, but this isn’t wrestling, this is MMA.

Between his new size, his vastly underrated wrestling, his BJJ black belt and his experience with big powerful wrestlers (e.g. Lesnar), Mir will have no problem dealing with Carwin.

Once this fight does hit the ground, it will only be a matter of time before Carwin has either been chocked unconscious or is tapping in agony from an armbar.

My money say Mir by armbar in the middle of the second round.