Heavyweights Alistair Overeem, Frank Mir to Clash at UFC 167 in Las Vegas

Alistair Overeem gets his chance for Octagon redemption against Frank Mir at UFC 167. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

UFC officials announced the booking Friday following an initial report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. UFC 167 serves as the Las Vegas-based organization’s 20th anniversary card and is headlined by a welterweight title showdown between Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks. The Nov. 16 show takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will also see Chael Sonnen clash with Rashad Evans in a light heavyweight co-headliner.

Overeem joined the UFC in 2011 to much fanfare but has thus far produced just a 1-2 Octagon record. Though the heavyweight debuted in impressive fashion against Brock Lesnar, “The Demolition Man” was sidelined last year after failing a random drug test ahead of a planned title shot at UFC 146. Overeem was suspended nine months and returned to the Octagon this past February, when he was knocked out by Antonio Silva at UFC 156. That same result would later be replicated by Hawaiian prospect Travis Browne, who rallied back from an early knockdown to finish Overeem last month at UFC Fight Night 26.

Meanwhile, Mir rides a three-fight losing streak into his matchup with the massive Dutchman. The former UFC heavyweight champion came up short in his bid to recapture the title last year against Junior dos Santos and was then outpointed by Daniel Cormier before suffering a first-round technical knockout to the returning Josh Barnett this past Saturday at UFC 164. Prior to his recent skid, Mir had won three straight fights, besting Mirko Filipovic, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson from 2010 to 2011.