Dana White on Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem’s Furtures: “They Need to Perform on Saturday”

There may be no fighters on the UFC 169 fight card more in need of a win more than heavyweights Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem. Mir is in the twilight of his career, while Overeem hasn’t lived up to expectations during his UFC tenure.

Mir (16-8) has lost his last three fights. It’s rare for a fighter to be kept on the roster after losing four consecutive bouts regardless if he’s a former champion.

Overeem (36-13, 1NC) has lost in his last two outings by knockout. Since signing with the UFC, the former Strikeforce heavyweight titleholder and 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion has gone 1-2. Although it hasn’t been specifically said, the two heavyweights will be fighting for their jobs at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Saturday.

UFC president Dana White didn’t go as far as saying the it’s a loser leave town match-up when talking to the media in New York or Thursday, but made it clear that both fighters are in need of a good performance.

Questioned if their jobs were on the line, White said, “Yeah. I mean, yeah. They need to perform.”

But it’s not as black and white as the UFC president made it sound. He left the door wide open for both to remain under contract.

“Everybody keeps asking me if those guys are done, if one of them is getting cut or loser leaves or whatever,” said White. “What if the fight is a Mark Hunt vs. Bigfoot Silva fight? I’ll keep them both. They need to perform on Saturday night.”