Just five days after Frank Mir (pictured) suffered a controversial TKO loss to Josh Barnett at UFC 164, the former heavyweight champion will get a change to get right back at it.
On Thursday night, the UFC announced Mir will meet Alistair Overeem at UFC 167 on November 16.
Both decorated athletes could be fighting for their UFC lives. Mir has dropped three straight bouts, while Overeem has been knocked out in his past two outings.
Rarely do fighters who lose three consecutive scraps get a reprieve in the UFC, but Mir is a popular veteran who is also a two-time title holder. Prior to losing to Barnett, he was dominated by Daniel Cormier and TKO’d by Junior dos Santos.
Overeem, meanwhile, has had a rough go in the big leagues. After retiring Brock Lesnar to earn next dibs at the 265-pound crown, he was issued a nine-month suspension for elevated levels of testosterone.
Upon return, “The Demolition Man” went on to lose in lights out fashion to Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and last month to Travis Brown.
UFC 167 takes place inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Here is the card’s current lineup:
Josh Koscheck vs. Tyron Woodley
Alistair Overeem vs. Frank Mir
Rory MacDonald vs. Robbie Lawler
Chael Sonnen vs. Rashad Evans
Johny Hendricks vs. Georges St-Pierre (UFC welterweight champion)