Sherdog.com Preview: UFC 61 “Bitter Rivals” Part II
Dan Christison vs. Frank Mir
Jul 7, 2006
CHRISTISON: 6’ 8”, 265 pounds, 30, Los Angeles, California,
known as “The Sandman”
BACKGROUND: Christison trains out of New Mexico with Diego Sanchez (Pictures), Joey Villasenor (Pictures), Keith Jardine (Pictures), Brian Schall (Pictures) and Damacio Page (Pictures) under the direction of Greg Jackson at Jackson’s Gaidojutsu Academy. Dan has won the Ring of Fire heavyweight belt, WEC super heavyweight Native American title and the IFC U.S. super heavyweight strap. He sports a professional record of 8-3 in MMA.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Submitted Gabe Beauperty at Gladiator
Challenge 5. Lost a decision to Dan Severn (Pictures) at the Aztec Challenge 1. He
fought Severn again the following year and lost another decision at
KOTC 24. Was stopped by Eric
Pele (Pictures) with strikes at KOTC 23.
Submitted Andre Roberts
(Pictures) via armbar at WEC 13.
Submitted Ben Rothwell
(Pictures) via Kimura arm lock at WEC
13. Submitted Jimmy Ambriz
(Pictures) via verbal submission at
IFC Warriors Challenge 19.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 1-0. Dan was a later replacement for the injured Kerry Schall (Pictures) on season two of The Ultimate Fighter. There he lost a decision to Seth Petruzelli (Pictures) in an elimination bout. Submitted Brad Imes (Pictures) via armbar at Ultimate Fight Night 4.
MIR: 6’ 1”, 240 pounds, 26, Las Vegas, Nevada
BACKGROUND: Mir is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylist and wrestler fighting out of the Las Vegas Combat Club with Alex Schoenauer (Pictures), Rick Davis (Pictures), John Wood and veteran Heath Herring (Pictures). As a boy, he was taught the philosophy of Kempo by his parents and added boxing, wrestling and finally Brazilian jiu-jitsu to his training. He won a number of BJJ tournaments and was the 1998 Nevada wrestling champion with a 43-1 record. He is a former UFC heavyweight champion with a professional MMA record of 8-2. He returned to fighting in February of 2006 after a year and a half away to rehab following a motorcycle accident that nearly killed him.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Beat Jerome Smith (Pictures) by decision. Submitted Dan Quinn (Pictures) via triangle choke at IFC Warriors Challenge 15.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 6-2. Submitted Roberto Traven via armbar at UFC 34 and Pete Williams via shoulder lock at UFC 36. Was stopped with strikes by Ian Freeman (Pictures) at UFC 38 before returning to submit Tank Abbott via toehold at UFC 41. Won a bout against Wes Sims (Pictures) when “The Project” was disqualified at UFC 43. He beat Sims again by knockout at UFC 45. Submitted Tim Sylvia (Pictures) via armbar at UFC 48. Was stopped with strikes by Marcio Cruz (Pictures) at UFC 57.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He has highly developed ground skills. He truly incorporates Brazilian jiu-jitsu into his fight game and always looks for the submission. He has a lot of heart, too. To battle back from the accident and even getting back in the cage is an accomplishment. He’s been down before too. Mir was able to turn it around and beat Abbott after the knockout at the hands of Freeman.
OVERALL OPINION OF MATCH: Good for Mir; great for Christison. If Frank wins, it’s a “W” on his record but it is a win over an opponent he should beat. If Dan wins, he knocks off a former heavyweight champ. With Arlovski-Sylvia II as the main event, many fans will have their eyes on this bout for the future. We all know the UFC loves rematches don’t we?
BACKGROUND: Christison trains out of New Mexico with Diego Sanchez (Pictures), Joey Villasenor (Pictures), Keith Jardine (Pictures), Brian Schall (Pictures) and Damacio Page (Pictures) under the direction of Greg Jackson at Jackson’s Gaidojutsu Academy. Dan has won the Ring of Fire heavyweight belt, WEC super heavyweight Native American title and the IFC U.S. super heavyweight strap. He sports a professional record of 8-3 in MMA.
Advertisement
UFC EXPERIENCE: 1-0. Dan was a later replacement for the injured Kerry Schall (Pictures) on season two of The Ultimate Fighter. There he lost a decision to Seth Petruzelli (Pictures) in an elimination bout. Submitted Brad Imes (Pictures) via armbar at Ultimate Fight Night 4.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He’s dangerous on the feet. He has a
significant height and reach advantage over many of his opponents.
His ground game is more than just an afterthought. Dan submitted
Roberts and Rothwell and got former KOTC champ Ambriz to call it
quits. He has a long way to go but he has the tools and he’s in a
camp that will help him develop quickly.
MIR: 6’ 1”, 240 pounds, 26, Las Vegas, Nevada
BACKGROUND: Mir is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylist and wrestler fighting out of the Las Vegas Combat Club with Alex Schoenauer (Pictures), Rick Davis (Pictures), John Wood and veteran Heath Herring (Pictures). As a boy, he was taught the philosophy of Kempo by his parents and added boxing, wrestling and finally Brazilian jiu-jitsu to his training. He won a number of BJJ tournaments and was the 1998 Nevada wrestling champion with a 43-1 record. He is a former UFC heavyweight champion with a professional MMA record of 8-2. He returned to fighting in February of 2006 after a year and a half away to rehab following a motorcycle accident that nearly killed him.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Beat Jerome Smith (Pictures) by decision. Submitted Dan Quinn (Pictures) via triangle choke at IFC Warriors Challenge 15.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 6-2. Submitted Roberto Traven via armbar at UFC 34 and Pete Williams via shoulder lock at UFC 36. Was stopped with strikes by Ian Freeman (Pictures) at UFC 38 before returning to submit Tank Abbott via toehold at UFC 41. Won a bout against Wes Sims (Pictures) when “The Project” was disqualified at UFC 43. He beat Sims again by knockout at UFC 45. Submitted Tim Sylvia (Pictures) via armbar at UFC 48. Was stopped with strikes by Marcio Cruz (Pictures) at UFC 57.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He has highly developed ground skills. He truly incorporates Brazilian jiu-jitsu into his fight game and always looks for the submission. He has a lot of heart, too. To battle back from the accident and even getting back in the cage is an accomplishment. He’s been down before too. Mir was able to turn it around and beat Abbott after the knockout at the hands of Freeman.
OVERALL OPINION OF MATCH: Good for Mir; great for Christison. If Frank wins, it’s a “W” on his record but it is a win over an opponent he should beat. If Dan wins, he knocks off a former heavyweight champ. With Arlovski-Sylvia II as the main event, many fans will have their eyes on this bout for the future. We all know the UFC loves rematches don’t we?
