Former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will make his return to the Octagon at UFC 200 against Mark Hunt. Giving his UFC 200 predictions, Frank Mir thinks that Hunt will pull off a surprising victory in the highly anticipated showdown.
Mir, who is familiar with both fighters, having faced Lesnar twice and Hunt in March, sees "Super Samoan" beating the returning superstar. The veteran heavyweight contender said Lesnar does not like to be hit, which is a no-no against a good puncher like Hunt.
"Brock for whatever reason has shown much more of a dramatic response to the negativity of those shots," Mir told Phone Booth Fighting. "To the point where he's not asleep, it isn't like he got knocked out, he's not getting dropped, but he just turns his face away from adversity."
However, Mir quickly clarified that he is not counting Lesnar out, especially if the World Wrestling Entertainment icon executes his fight plan properly. The 37-year-old expects Lesnar to try to take Hunt down in the match, knowing the 42-year-old is not at his best when he is on the ground.
Mir said Hunt tends to get fatigued when he is in the ground. And if there is one fighter who could easily take the New Zealand native down numerous times, Mir thinks it is Lesnar. He concluded that it will boil down on who wants it more and who could maximize their game plan on fight night.
Meanwhile, Lesnar told Heyman Hustle that he voluntarily called UFC president Dana White to ask about a possible slot at UFC 200, which is expected to become the highest-grossing fight card in franchise history. The 38-year-old said he felt he has unfinished business inside the Octagon because his first run ended due to health reasons.
"I'm not here to avenge any loss other than to avenge the loss that I took to diverticulitis," Lesnar said. He added he is now 100 percent healthy and has already mapped out training plan with former college wrestling coach Marty Morgan in Regina, Saskatchewan in Canada.
Lesnar did not discuss whether or not he has plans to continue fighting if he wins against Mir on July 9. WWE previously confirmed Lesnar was given green light to fight in the Octagon but will have to return to headline WWE SummerSlam in August.
Watch Brock Lesnar's full interview with Heyman Hustle below.