Frank Mir will tie former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz for most appearances in company history when he steps into the Octagon to face No. 9-ranked heavyweight contender Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night 85 later this evening (Sat., March 19, 2016).
Mir, a former heavyweight titleholder, has been competing in mixed martial arts (MMA) for 15 years and in order to stay on top, he’s entrusted coaching duties to none other than longtime friend Ricky Lundell.
Lundell, who’s a renowned legend in the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling, helped train Mir for much of his UFC career. But sometimes, even the best must incorporate new minds and training partners into each passing fight camp, which Mir had done by bringing Freddie Roach disciple, Angelo Reyes, aboard to help him with his boxing.
How do they all fit together as a unit? Quite well, Mir tells Submission Radio.
“We’re actually all just really close friends. All of our families hangout together; our children play together. When we’re not training, we’re all also outside and go to the movies. It’s easier that way, when you go to war together, it makes more sense.”
Results show that the Las Vegas native has grown much in the stand-up department. Mir knocked out Antonio Silva and Todd Duffee to begin 2015, before falling to ex-champion Andrei Arlovski last September via decision.
The 36-year-old now looks to right the ship against the former K-1 kickboxer Hunt in Brisbane, Australia, tonight. Learn more about the team behind Mir in the above video before he battles “Super Samoan” in the UFC Fight Night 85 headliner.
For continuous coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 85 card, including up-to-the-minute live results and play-by-play, click here and here.