Jul-18-2007

Mir-Hardonk Added to UFC 74 Card

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By Thomas Gerbasi

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir returns to the Octagon for the first time in nine months when he takes on dangerous Antoni Hardonk in a bout on August 25th’s UFC 74 card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

UFC 74 is headlined by the UFC Heavyweight Championship bout between champion Randy Couture and challenger Gabriel Gonzaga, and the welterweight showdown between former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre and Josh Koscheck.

Las Vegas’ Mir (9-3) is making his first start since a TKO loss to Brandon Vera at UFC 65 in November of 2006. After winning the UFC heavyweight title with a 50 second submission win over Tim Sylvia in June of 2004, Mir suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident and was eventually stripped of his title as he rehabbed his broken leg. Mir returned to the Octagon almost two years later in February of 2006, but was stopped by Marcio Cruz in the first round. A subsequent decision win over Dan Christison put Mir in the win column once again, but the loss to rising star Vera put Mir back on the comeback trail. On August 25th, he makes what he hopes is a triumphant return.

Standing in his way is Holland native Antoni Hardonk (5-3), who is on a comeback trail of his own after an upset decision loss to Justin McCully in April. Before that though, the 31-year old Hardonk showed how dangerous he can be in the Octagon when he knocked out Sherman Pendergarst at 3:15 of the opening round last November. A win over Mir will propel this protégé of Ernesto Hoost and Rickson Gracie up the heavyweight ranks.