Brendan Schaub vs. Stefan Struve Agreed For Early 2011

Brendan Schaub rocks Gabe Gonzaga at UFC 121.

Brendan Schaub has been asking for a fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, but it appears he’s going to have to wait. Stefan Struve has been tapped as the next opponent for Schaub for a fight set to go down in early 2011.

MMAWeekly.com first reported the proposed match-up between Schaub and Mir a few weeks back. They were targeted and agreed for an early 2011 fight, but the UFC has opted for another fight instead.

Sources close to the situation confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Monday that Schaub and Struve have now been asked to face off with verbal agreements in place from both fighters. Sportsnet.CA first reported the switch on Monday.

There has been no date determined yet for the heavyweight tilt, only that it will take place on one of the shows in early 2011.

Struve comes into the fight against Schaub after his co-main event TKO win over Sean McCorkle at UFC 124 in Montreal earlier this month. The Dutch fighter upped his record to 5-2 in the UFC with the win in December.

Both Schaub and Struve are considered among the best of the crop of young heavyweights in the UFC, and this bout should take center stage in whatever show they end up on.

Mir’s removal from the bout with Schaub does bring up obvious questions as to why. The former champion hasn’t fought since UFC 119 in September, and while sources indicated he had already agreed to the fight with Schaub, it may be curious timing that a slot has opened up for him to return and coach on the next season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

UFC president Dana White had mentioned Mir along with rival Brock Lesnar as potential coaching candidates for the reality show, but as of today there has still be no announcement as far as who will lead the fighters during the 13th season of the show.

MMAWeekly.com will update with more information on this story as it becomes available.