Tag: Frank Mir

[VIDEOS] Frank Mir Talks Nick Diaz, Junior dos Santos Talks Wladimir Klitschko

MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani recently took some time away from interviewing mentally handicapped freakshows to get back to his roots as MMA’s top correspondent, questioning UFC 146’s headliners, Frank Mir and Junior dos Santos, on everything from Nick Diaz’s recent suspension to whether or not Daniel Cormier should be the man to face the winner of their Saturday night title fight.

When asked his opinion on the NSAC’s aforementioned ruling in the case of Mr. Diaz, Mir seemed to side with the “what kind of bullshit is this?” crowd, stating that “…obviously just having metabolites in his system means that he was not under the influence of marijuana in contest the night they tested him, but I guess that’s why they wear suits and I wear no shirt when I go to work.” I hear you there, bro. Mir also discussed his plans for dos Santos, mainly, that he will pull guard on the champ if need be, because shooting on “Cigano” will likely not be a viable option.

Join us after the jump for Helwani’s interview with dos Santos, who makes some pretty ballsy claims to say the least. 

MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani recently took some time away from interviewing mentally handicapped freakshows to get back to his roots as MMA’s top correspondent, questioning UFC 146′s headliners, Frank Mir and Junior dos Santos, on everything from Nick Diaz’s recent suspension to whether or not Daniel Cormier should be the man to face the winner of their Saturday night title fight.

When asked his opinion on the NSAC’s aforementioned ruling in the case of Mr. Diaz, Mir seemed to side with the “what kind of bullshit is this?” crowd, stating that “…obviously just having metabolites in his system means that he was not under the influence of marijuana in contest the night they tested him, but I guess that’s why they wear suits and I wear no shirt when I go to work.” I hear you there, bro. Mir also discussed his plans for dos Santos, mainly, that he will pull guard on the champ if need be, because shooting on “Cigano” will likely not be a viable option.

Helwani’s interview with dos Santos was decidedly different, as “Cigano” spent a good amount of time trying to clarify earlier statements he made about Mir’s lack of heart, and the fact that he is “not a man.” If that sounds like a bit harsh of a criticism considering the source, the heavyweight champion only meant to say that when the going gets tough, Mir gives up. Although Big Nog might disagree with that notion (as well as the driver who nearly took Mir’s life), do you think it’s a fair assessment of the former heavyweight champ, Potato Nation?

But perhaps even more unexpected than dos Santos’ semi trash-talk was his claim that, given a few months of training, he could take WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO & The Ring Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, or anyone else in the world for that matter (conversation begins at the 5:30 mark). Whereas a statement like that might come off as arrogant for any other fighter, there’s something about the way Junior delivers his words (ie. in hilariously broken English), combined with the ever-present smile pasted across his face, that just makes him seem more genuine than some of the other guys out there. SO WATCH YOUR BACK, WLADIMIR.

Since we haven’t asked this in at least a week; who you got, Potato Nation?

–J. Jones

UFC 146 Fight Card: Is Frank Mir the Most Underrated Heavyweight in History?

When listing the legends of the UFC heavyweight division, Frank Mir does not immediately jump to mind.When Mir is involved in a championship fight, he is often written off. However, stepping back and looking at his accomplishments in the sport, Frank M…

When listing the legends of the UFC heavyweight division, Frank Mir does not immediately jump to mind.

When Mir is involved in a championship fight, he is often written off. However, stepping back and looking at his accomplishments in the sport, Frank Mir stands out as one of the most successful heavyweights to step inside the cage and compete.

Mir is a two-time UFC heavyweight champion, with sixteen professional victories under his belt. He is arguably the greatest heavyweight submission artist to date.

Mir began his career with an 8-1 record. He had one of the first big submission highlights in company history when he snapped Tim Sylvia’s arm to capture his first UFC Heavyweight Championship. Months after winning gold, he suffered the ill-fated motorcycle accident.

It took nearly two years for the former champion to return to the Octagon. His comeback was rocky, with losses to Marcio Cruz and Brandon Vera. But how many men could even come back from an accident like that to compete in the sport’s biggest promotion?

At UFC 74, Mir submitted Antoni Hardonk in a little over a minute and proclaimed that he was back. While skeptics doubted that this was true, Mir knew it to be the case.

With a win under his belt and a marketable name, he was picked to welcome Brock Lesnar to the Octagon. And he welcomed him with a kneebar that placed Mir in an interim UFC Heavyweight Championship tilt with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Once again, Mir was written off. How would he defeat Big Nog?

He certainly could not submit him, and not even the great Fedor had been able to stop him. It seemed like a formality. But when the bell sounded, Mir shocked the MMA world by stopping the heavyweight legend via strikes to claim the interim strap.

Since Mir proclaimed that he was back on August 25, 2007 at UFC 74, he has only lost twice. Both times he was fighting for a UFC championship. And in that span, he has put on impressive performances against some of the division’s top fighters.

Saturday he is once again the underdog, seemingly in over his head with no path to victory. With a win, Mir could claim that he is the best heavyweight in the world and perhaps get the long deserved recognition for his accomplishments. A loss will have fans saying, “I told you so.”

In the relatively short history of MMA, Mir stands out.

His accomplishments rival that of most other heavyweights. He has defeated legends and contenders, and captured the most coveted prize in MMA twice. With a victory in his fifth title appearance, he would join Randy Couture to become the second fighter to capture the UFC Heavyweight Championship for the third time.

When Mir gets inside the Octagon to contend for the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Junior dos Santos this Saturday, fans need to stop taking the long-time contender for granted and appreciate what he has given to all of us for many years.

Win or lose, Frank Mir is one of the greatest heavyweights to compete in MMA.

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Frank Mir Doesn’t Really Like Breaking Limbs, but He Does Love Submissions

I’m sure you’ve seen the past two episodes of UFC Primetime.You know, the ones where Frank Mir lovingly—and in excruciatingly grisly detail—describes his love for snapping limbs. It’s painful stuff, especially when you remember the visage o…

I’m sure you’ve seen the past two episodes of UFC Primetime.

You know, the ones where Frank Mir lovingly—and in excruciatingly grisly detail—describes his love for snapping limbs. It’s painful stuff, especially when you remember the visage of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira shortly after he made the dumb decision to let Mir thrash his right arm beyond all recognition rather than tap out.

Is Mir a violent man? In a manner of speaking, yes. He’s the best submission heavyweight in the history of the sport, and with that comes a certain expectation of limb-snapping. But I discussed this subject with Mir during a chat on Wednesday afternoon, and he told me that he’s not all he’s portrayed to be.

“I don’t really enjoy breaking limbs. I love winning by submission. They are so definitive and powerful. It’s my favorite aspect,” Mir says. “But you have to realize, the guy that I am fighting, we are of the same breed. We’re both mixed martial artists. I want to win, of course, but if they can leave with their limb intact, I’m a happier person for it.”

That’s a big difference from the guy we’re seeing on television each week, isn’t it? But that’s usually how these things go. Mir is a master at building fights, but he’s also one of the most charming and intelligent fighters in the entire sport. I sat with Mir in the Media Center at the MGM Grand for nearly 45 minutes, discussing a range of subjects from Obama/Romney on gun control to his desire to beat the living crap out of Ted Bundy. 

And I wondered how much time Mir has left in the game. He’s still young, but he’s been doing this cage-fighting thing for a long, long time. He tells me that Dan Henderson is still fighting for titles in his 40s, so there’s no reason he can’t do the same thing. But I don’t see Mir sticking around until his 40s, and I don’t think he does, either.

He has a future in commentary, because he’s one of the best analytical minds in the sport. 

“It’s something I can get back to and help the world of martial arts with, the sport that has given me so much,” Mir says. “If I can help the casual fan out, that would be great.”

How much does Mir have left? Is this his final run at the title, or the beginning of a late-career renaissance for one of the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport? As with anything else, Mir is cogent when discussing the day that he’ll pack up his gear and go home for the final time.

“First and foremost, injuries have to be taken into consideration. And really, I have three small children. I want to be part of their lives,” Mir says. “Once they get older, it’s time for me to become a cast member and not the star of the show. Which I am more than happy to take up.”

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UFC 146 Fight Card: 5 Questions We Have About Frank Mir

This coming Saturday at UFC 146, Frank Mir will once again have a shot at the UFC heavyweight championship. This time, Mir will meet the dangerous Junior dos Santos.  Mir won the title back in 2004, but was forced to give the title up after a&nbsp…

This coming Saturday at UFC 146, Frank Mir will once again have a shot at the UFC heavyweight championship. This time, Mir will meet the dangerous Junior dos Santos.  

Mir won the title back in 2004, but was forced to give the title up after a devastating motorcycle accident. 

Mir won the interim UFC heavyweight title four years later against Antonio Rodrigio Nogueira, but lost the title unification bout against Brock Lesnar. 

After a failed attempt to gain the interim title once again against Shane Carwin, Mir has won three straight and finds himself in the biggest battle of his career. 

Here are some questions that Mir must answer Saturday night. 

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UFC 146 Fight Card: A Frank Mir Victory Cements His Place as a UFC Hall-of-Famer

Heavyweight Frank Mir may already be headed to the UFC Hall of Fame when he hangs up his gloves, but at Saturday’s UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Mir has the chance to erase any doubt of whether he deserves such an accolade. Mir’s heavyweight record…

Heavyweight Frank Mir may already be headed to the UFC Hall of Fame when he hangs up his gloves, but at Saturday’s UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Mir has the chance to erase any doubt of whether he deserves such an accolade.

Mir’s heavyweight record 14 wins inside the Octagon and devastating submission game are more than enough for consideration into the exclusive club.

Yet, Mir’s inability to remain at the top of the division hurts the case for his inclusion. After all, every other member dominated their weight class for an extensive period of time.

When the cage door shuts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 26, Mir will look to recapture the UFC belt that he has already held twice in the past.

However, he’ll be facing the type of fighter that has been his kryptonite in the past: vicious knockout artist—and current champion—Junior dos Santos.

Although Mir has numerous, memorable submissions on his lengthy record—such as breaking the arms of both Tim Sylvia and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira—you’ll find a number of equally embarrassing defeats, all by KO or TKO.

He was demolished by heavy-hitters Shane Carwin and Brock Lesnar, but he has been able to work his way back into title contention—with a little bit of luck.

Had it not been for Alistair Overeem’s failed pre-fight drug test, who knows if Mir would’ve ever been granted another shot at UFC gold. Yet, here he is, in the position to become champion once again.

Certainly there are other factors in Mir’s candidacy, beyond this current fight. The fact that he overcame a serious motorcycle accident following his first title run to capture the interim belt in 2008 has to be taken into consideration.

Again, being that he was forced to vacate the belt due to injury and failed to unify the interim belt are significant arguments against his place in the elite group.

Mir is in the driver’s seat if he wants to prove he belongs. If he can finally figure out how to solve the puzzle that has derailed his past runs, and defeat dos Santos, it would be very hard to deny his place in UFC history.

 

Rob Tatum is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. You can also find Rob’s work at The MMA Corner. For anything related to MMA, follow him on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 146 Fight Card: A Frank Mir Victory Cements His Place as a UFC Hall-of-Famer

Heavyweight Frank Mir may already be headed to the UFC Hall of Fame when he hangs up his gloves, but at Saturday’s UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Mir has the chance to erase any doubt of whether he deserves such an accolade. Mir’s heavyweight record…

Heavyweight Frank Mir may already be headed to the UFC Hall of Fame when he hangs up his gloves, but at Saturday’s UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Mir has the chance to erase any doubt of whether he deserves such an accolade.

Mir’s heavyweight record 14 wins inside the Octagon and devastating submission game are more than enough for consideration into the exclusive club.

Yet, Mir’s inability to remain at the top of the division hurts the case for his inclusion. After all, every other member dominated their weight class for an extensive period of time.

When the cage door shuts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 26, Mir will look to recapture the UFC belt that he has already held twice in the past.

However, he’ll be facing the type of fighter that has been his kryptonite in the past: vicious knockout artist—and current champion—Junior dos Santos.

Although Mir has numerous, memorable submissions on his lengthy record—such as breaking the arms of both Tim Sylvia and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira—you’ll find a number of equally embarrassing defeats, all by KO or TKO.

He was demolished by heavy-hitters Shane Carwin and Brock Lesnar, but he has been able to work his way back into title contention—with a little bit of luck.

Had it not been for Alistair Overeem’s failed pre-fight drug test, who knows if Mir would’ve ever been granted another shot at UFC gold. Yet, here he is, in the position to become champion once again.

Certainly there are other factors in Mir’s candidacy, beyond this current fight. The fact that he overcame a serious motorcycle accident following his first title run to capture the interim belt in 2008 has to be taken into consideration.

Again, being that he was forced to vacate the belt due to injury and failed to unify the interim belt are significant arguments against his place in the elite group.

Mir is in the driver’s seat if he wants to prove he belongs. If he can finally figure out how to solve the puzzle that has derailed his past runs, and defeat dos Santos, it would be very hard to deny his place in UFC history.

 

Rob Tatum is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. You can also find Rob’s work at The MMA Corner. For anything related to MMA, follow him on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com