Frank Mir has always dreamed of trading in his gloves for a microphone. The 33-year-old Las Vegas native has competed inside the Octagon for over a decade, but when he is not tearing limbs and breaking bones, he is standing cage-side and com…
Frank Mir has always dreamed of trading in his gloves for a microphone.
The 33-year-old Las Vegas native has competed inside the Octagon for over a decade, but when he is not tearing limbs and breaking bones, he is standing cage-side and commentating on the bouts.
And he is optimistic about pursuing it full-time when he retires.
“I like analyzing fights and I like doing color commentating,” said Mir. “It’s an opportunity I would take advantage of when I run into it. Hopefully it’s something I can do full time,” Mir told the Chronicle Journal during a celebrity dinner in Canada earlier this week.
Mir has always been one of the more colorful personalities in the sport and he brings a lot of charisma.
Mir is aware that time is not on his side and he could offer more credibility to the UFC broadcast team, Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan. Goldberg and Rogan are great at what they do, but adding a third member to their team wouldn’t hurt necessarily and it would make them more professional.
Fighters like Randy Couture and Kenny Florian have also commentated for UFC events in the past and there is no reason why Mir couldn’t do the same. Mir is a intelligent and articulate person who can offer in-depth analysis and insight while commentating on fights.
Commentary is an integral part of UFC broadcasts and it adds to the excitement during the main card.
Although Mir isn’t calling it a career just yet, it won’t be too long before he finds himself out of the cage and into the booth, and it is a job perfectly suited for him.
If you’ve ever found yourself entranced by a raspy, baritone voice calling out “We’re rollin!” from the locker rooms of a UFC event, then you are undoubtedly familiar with the UFC’s “babysitter to the stars,” Burt Watson. I will be the first to admit that in my infinite wisdom, I once failed to recognize one of the most crucial members of the sport’s highest promotion when he was caught on camera during one of Dana White’s infamous Danavlogs. It is to this date the biggest mindfart I have ever farted (which is saying something), but needless to say, without Watson shuffling fighters around, organizing them for press conferences, and getting them amped up for their fights, the UFC would be a shell of the “well-oiled machine” that it truly is.
Wanting to recognize the crucial role Watson plays in the UFC, Sportsnet recently dedicated a brief video to his greatness, reeling in such UFC stars as Georges. St Pierre (who does a hilarious Watson impression when prompted), Frank Mir, Junior dos Santos, and even the boss man himself to sing his praises. So check it out if you’ve got a couple extra minutes, and leave your own praises in the comments section.
If you’ve ever found yourself entranced by a raspy, baritone voice calling out “We’re rollin!” from the locker rooms of a UFC event, then you are undoubtedly familiar with the UFC’s “babysitter to the stars,” Burt Watson. I will be the first to admit that in my infinite wisdom, I once failed to recognize one of the most crucial members of the sport’s highest promotion when he was caught on camera during one of Dana White’s infamous Danavlogs. It is to this date the biggest mindfart I have ever farted (which is saying something), but needless to say, without Watson shuffling fighters around, organizing them for press conferences, and getting them amped up for their fights, the UFC would be a shell of the “well-oiled machine” that it truly is.
Wanting to recognize the crucial role Watson plays in the UFC, Sportsnet recently dedicated a brief video to his greatness, reeling in such UFC stars as Georges. St Pierre (who does a hilarious Watson impression when prompted), Frank Mir, Junior dos Santos, and even the boss man himself to sing his praises. So check it out if you’ve got a couple extra minutes, and leave your own praises in the comments section.
Here’s what Dana White had to say about the man behind the scenes:
Burt actually started from day one. I brought a lot of boxing guys into the UFC. Burt was actually a friend of a guy who used to work for us. We got introduced to Burt and he is literally the best in the business. He is a guy that all the fighters respect. He’s a guy that’s been in the fight game forever. He’s a good man. Whatever [the fighters] need, Burt’s there for them, and when Burt needs what he needs, they respect that and do what Burt tells them to do. [Ed. note: Unless they are Jason Miller.] Burt literally runs [the] backstage. He runs the show from backstage and people would be shocked to realize what a big job that is and how hard it is.
Really, everyone in the fight business could not speak highly enough of Watson.
Frank Mir: “[Watson] is definitely the general that keeps the machine running.”
Jake Shields: “He’s one of the more important people in the UFC that no one knows.”
Greg Jackson: “He’s an amazing individual. The UFC, honestly, wouldn’t be where it is if it wasn’t for Burt Watson taking care of all the fighters.”
Mark Bocek: “I really don’t think the UFC would be the same without him.”
When asked about Burt’s signature rally cry, guys like Roy Nelson, Donald Cerrone, and Carlos Condit all related it to “the work horn,” or that final bit of preparation that readies them for the cage. Nick Diaz, of course, is not a huge fan of it:
I don’t like it, but I mean, I’m used to it though. That’s where experience comes into play, and I’m ready for Burt. I’m like, ‘Come on Burt, where you at?’
I swear to God, Nick Diaz could hate the first ray of sunshine after a storm.
Last year Peyton Manning flew to Europe on a private jet, not for tea and crumpets or to see the Louvre, but for an experimental stem-cell treatment on his injured neck. The procedure, one that isn’t even legal in the United States, allegedly took his …
Last year Peyton Manning flew to Europe on a private jet, not for tea and crumpets or to see the Louvre, but for an experimental stem-cell treatment on his injured neck.
The procedure, one that isn’t even legal in the United States, allegedly took his own fat cells and used them to try to regrow damaged neck tissue:
”There are many proposed therapies that are being tested in clinical trials, and there are more to come,” Dr. Lawrence Goldstein, director of the stem cell program at the University of California, San Diego, told ABC News. “But in the absence of reliable evidence, it is impossible to know whether the ‘treatment’ will make Manning better or worse or merely financially poorer.”
The NFL doesn’t have any rules specifically banning illegal procedures that an athlete can have done in foreign locales. Kobe Bryant, the NBA’s aging lion, had similarly cutting-edge treatment on his arthritic knee in Germany. It’s called “Biologic Medicine,” and in addition to Bryant, super-agent Ari Emanuel and the late Pope John Paul II were ardent believers.
There are a ton of controversial treatments possible where science collides with loose regulation. Bone marrow injections filled with those miracle-working stem cells can be injected into the body. Blood can be heated up, spun and spun in an incubator, the healing agents isolated and injected. The 34-year-old Bryant felt like a new man after first undergoing the procedure, like Manning’s one not approved by the FDA:
He even recommended the treatment to Alex Rodriguez, which led the baseball star to undergo the same treatment on his knee late last year. Bryant hasn’t commented publicly on the treatment, but A-Rod has described the feelings of his friend.
Bryant “was really adamant about how great the procedure was for him,” Rodriguez told reporters.”I know that he was hurting before, almost even thinking about retirement, that’s how much pain he was under. And then he said after he went to Germany he felt like a 27-year-old again. I was still a little apprehensive about it, and he kept staying on me about it.”
Athletes at the highest levels will do almost anything to maintain that edge—to feel younger, sprier and as explosive as they did in their primes. And with the right money and resources, they are extending their careers further than any of their predecessors would have dared dream. Is it any wonder athletes in mixed martial arts are doing the same?
In that sport, some of the UFC’s top aging stars have undergone Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), looking to bring their bodies’ natural level of testosterone back to the levels they enjoyed in their 20s. Top contenders like Dan Henderson (41), Chael Sonnen (35) and Frank Mir (33) have all undergone the procedure. Former middleweight champion Rich Franklin (37) is considering it.
Unlike the illegal and medically unsound procedures endured by athletes like Bryant and Manning, TRT is perfectly legal. In fact, its use is growing among men in all walks of life. When administered properly, it simply levels the playing field. Although some rabid critics have compared it to steroid abuse, TRT under a doctor’s care never actually increases the level of testosterone over what is normal in the human body.
So, what is all the fuss about?
Critics point to the scourge of steroids, all but accusing athletes on TRT of abusing them. And it’s true that past steroid use can cause the body to stop producing testosterone naturally. So can certain problems with the pituitary gland, injuries to the testicles, use of certain drugs and extended periods of cutting weight for sports like wrestling, among a host of other reasons, including the natural aging process.
But even assuming these athletes at one point or another abused steroids, why should that eliminate their later use of TRT?
One study shows six percent of all high school seniors used anabolic steroids. That’s an estimated 192,000 every year. Should all these youthful offenders be given what amounts to a lifetime ban from high-level athletics if their body stops producing testosterone naturally?
That’s a lot of potential athletes to capriciously eliminate from your sport—all in the name of preventing a treatment that doesn’t in itself give anyone an unfair advantage.
The idea MMA has a “testosterone crisis” is ludicrous on its face. Not only is the process legal and provided under a doctor’s care, UFC fighters aren’t even using it in unusually high numbers. About two percent of adult males in their 30s will need TRT to function normally. There are four UFC fighters using the treatment, out of a roster of more than 200. Those numbers are within the national average for use. Again, where is this “epidemic”?
Exceptional athletes doing whatever it takes to extend their career. Our highest-profile stars are undergoing risky procedures in far-off lands—to little fanfare.
The extended to-do about TRT is ridiculous. Not only is it legal and carefully scrutinized by doctors and the athletic commissions, it doesn’t tip a level playing field. As a sport, it’s time to focus on other, more important issues.
Last week, Stephanie Daniels of Bloody Elbow posted an interview with Dr. Benjamin.Dr. Benjamin is a spinal surgeon and a contributor to MMAJunkie.com, and he uses his medical expertise to speak about fighter health and injuries on the website. In…
Dr. Benjamin is a spinal surgeon and a contributor to MMAJunkie.com, and he uses his medical expertise to speak about fighter health and injuries on the website.
In the interview, he gave his opinion about Chael Sonnen and Frank Mir‘s usage of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). Following his UFC 146 bout against Junior Dos Santos, it came out that Mir had received a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for TRT.
He concluded that the only reason a 33-year-old fighter (Mir) would need testosterone injections was he abused steroids in the past.
In his own words: “Let’s be honest here. How many people who never wrecked their bodies with past steroid use, naturally need TRT at 33? Less than one or two percent.”
Now, for a medical professional to be accusatory of anyone without having treated them is considered highly unethical by the American Medical Association.
However, the good doctor goes even further in discussing Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen was recently granted a TUE by the NSAC for his bout on July 7 against Anderson Silva at UFC 147. Sonnen’s reason for needing TRT is a medical one, as he has been diagnosed with hypogonadism.
Essentially, Sonnen’s body is unable to produced testosterone naturally, and he requires an injection to normalize his body. Chael had previously applied for a TUE in both Chicago and Houston and received approval by both the Illinois and Texas athletic commissions.
Dr. Benjamin opined that Chael would never have been able to reach the levels of success he has, as a wrestler in college and as an MMA fighter, with such a condition. Again, in his own words:
Was Chael Sonnen a big-time collegiate wrestler? Yes, he was. I’m going to opine and say to you, there’s no way in the world you get to the level of collegiate wrestling that Chael Sonnen was at with hypogonadism. Let me explain to you why. Hypogonadism means that the testes did not produce enough testosterone for one to normally mature. He wasn’t on TRT as a teenager. He became this big, muscled-up monster and NCAA wrestler with hypogonadism? Hell no.
He goes even further when he flat out accuses Sonnen of abusing steroids in the past.
“If he has hypogonadism, it’s from one thing, and one thing only, because he treated himself with steroids in the past, and wrecked his testes,” he said. “That’s it.”
This isn’t the first time Dr. Benjamin has been inflammatory regarding MMA fighters either. His irresponsible stories have actually cost certain fighters a considerable amount of money.
Former UFC welterweight champion and MMA legend Pat Miletich responded to Bleacher Report writer Jonathan Snowden on Twitter regarding Dr. Benjamin. Dr. Benjamin wrote an article about Pat’s neck injuries that had actual consequences.
@mmaencyclopedia Funny @DrJCBenjamin wrote I shouldn’t fight after neck surgery. Thr was no surgery n cost me 4k 4 extra tests 2 fight.
Dr. Benjamin is walking a fine line between professional and sensational. While I appreciate that he gives his medical opinion about certain aspects of the sport, accusing fighters of steroid abuse isn’t just reckless, it’s outright slander.
I hope that he starts to be more responsible with his words and speaks based on facts rather than hearsay. His reputation is dependent on it.
With testosterone replacement therapy quickly becoming one of the hottest issues in mixed martial arts, it’s no surprise that it was a main topic of conversation when Dr. Johnny Benjamin, a frequent contributor to MMA Junkie, did an interview with Bloo…
When asked if a fighter like Frank Mir, a 33-year-old former UFC heavyweight champion, could require TRT due to natural circumstances, Benjamin got straight to the point with his answer:
“Let’s be honest here. How many people who never wrecked their bodies with past steroid use, naturally need TRT at 33? Less than one or two percent.”
Shortly after Mir’s UFC 146 loss to reigning heavyweight title-holder Junior dos Santos, it was revealed that the challenger used TRT for the bout.
Also worth mentioning is that Mir passed all of the drug tests issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the event.
Inevitably, Daniels than asked Benjamin, a member of the Association of Boxing Commissions MMA Medical Advisory Panel, about Chael Sonnen’s claim that he uses TRT due to hypogonadism.
Benjamin briefly explains what hypogonadism is and why he does not believe that Sonnen actually suffers from the condition, instead rationalizing that Sonnen needs TRT from steroid use in the past.
Was Chael Sonnen a big time collegiate wrestler? Yes he was. I’m going to opine and say to you, there’s no way in the world you get to the level of collegiate wrestling that Chael Sonnen was at, with hypogonadism. Let me explain to you why. Hypogonadism means that the testes did not produce enough testosterone for one to normally mature. He wasn’t on TRT as a teenager. He became this big, muscled up monster and NCAA wrestler with hypogonadism? Hell no.
The truth of the matter is, you could never get to that level, because you’re not going to have the muscle mass and strength to get you there. They’re going to run you over. Your body will not allow you to develop enough muscle and strength to compete at your size. If he has hypogonadism, it’s from one thing, and one thing only, because he treated himself with steroids in the past, and wrecked his testes. That’s it.
Benjamin furthers his argument by stating that steroid use typically damages hormone-producing glands for life.
That’s the thing that people don’t appreciate. If you use steroids, it can harm your testes in a fashion that’s permanent. When these guys use steroids to compete, guess what? They’re more than likely going to need steroids for the rest of their lives just to be normal, because now they’ve destroyed or significantly injured their hormone producing glands, your testes, and they’re never going to work correctly again.
Mir’s TRT use is also interesting given that JDS’s original UFC 146 opponent, Alistair Overeem, was pulled from the bout and subsequently suspended by the NSAC for a 14 to 1 T/E ratio.
Following UFC 141 on December 30, 2011, Brock Lesnar’s stint with the UFC looked like it was finally coming to an end as he announced his retirement following a big loss to Alistair Overeem. Earlier.
Following UFC 141 on December 30, 2011, Brock Lesnar’s stint with the UFC looked like it was finally coming to an end as he announced his retirement following a big loss to Alistair Overeem. Earlier in 2011, he was having medical issues that pointed to a possible retirement for the fighter. Fans were devastated. Brock Lesnar was finally being recognized as a top fighter in the sport, and his controversial WWE background wasn’t influencing his performance. After announcing his retirement, however, it looked like he was headed back to the WWE. As it turns out, he will have his day in the octagon once again.
It is rumored that Brock Lesnar will make a comeback appearance as early as this year. While a future opponent hasn’t been discussed, it has been stated that it won’t be Frank Mir. While the two have faced each other twice in the octagon, each securing a win, a rubber match doesn’t seem to be in the future. Frank Mir’s future with the UFC is uncertain at this point as well, mainly on whether he will retire or move weight classes.
The main question being asked is who Lesnar will fight next, if not Mir. My best guess would be a second match up with Alistair Overeem. While it was the last loss of Lesnar’s career, speculation has been drawn due to the fact that Overeem failed a drug test following the bout. Many believe that it should have been called a draw, much like similar cases in the past. Overeem was suspended for the failed drug test, but is expected to return to the octagon in December of this year. If Lesnar really does plan on having a comeback in 2012, that may be the perfect scenario. It will make for good ratings, and whether fans love or hate Lesnar, his name on a card always makes produces hype.
Whether Lesnar returns to the octagon this year or at a later date, rest assured, it will be quite a comeback.
Last year Peyton Manning flew to Europe on a private jet, not for tea and crumpets or to see the Louvre, but for an experimental stem-cell treatment on his injured neck.