Frank Mir - UFC Fighter Bio

Frank Mir spent his entire life around martial arts.  His father owned a kenpo karate school in Las Vegas and competed in the very first UFC.  At age fourteen Frank watched his father get submitted, as did everyone else, by UFC legend Royce Gracie.  This prompted Franks’ father to encourage him to begin training in jiu jitsu.  Frank resisted and they settled on wrestling, and Frank won the state wrestling title in 1998.  He also began training in jiu jitsu soon after. 

Mir met UFC promoter Joe Silva when Silva visited a local martial arts school.  Silva arranged Frank’s first professional fight.  On July 14, 2001 Mir won his first professional fight at HOOKnSHOOT:Showdown.  Frank would make his UFC debut on November 2, 2001 against ADCC World Submission Champion Roberto Traven.  It took Mir just one minute to submit Traven by armbar and to earn “Tapout of the Night”. 

On June 19, 2004 Mir would get a shot at the UFC heavyweight title against Tim Silva.  The fight lasted just 50 seconds.  Mir caught Silva in an armbar and as Silva tried to pull free, Mir broke his forearm in 3 places and to this day that break is one of the nastiest injuries seen in the UFC.  For that submission Mir also earned his black belt in jiu jitsu. 

Three months later was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle.  His femur was broken in two places and his knee was destroyed.  After fourteen months of not being able to fight Frank was stripped of his title.  Mir would not return to the UFC for a year and a half. 

Mir’s return to the octagon did not go as planned, and he lost two of his first three fights.  He looked out of shape and was not the same fighter as he was before the accident.  He drew a lot of criticism for his conditioning and his heart was coming into question as well. 

On August 25, 2007 Mir would fight Antoni Hardonk at UFC 74.  Frank submitted Hardonk at 1:17 of the first round and shouted, “I’m Back!”  His next fight was against UFC newcomer and former pro wrestler Brock Lesnar.  Mir took some heavy shots and was taken down twice by Lesnar, but was able to submit Lesnar in the first round with a kneebar.  Mir was chosen as a coach along with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the 8^th season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show.  He defeated Nogueira in the second round of the finale on December 27, 2008, setting up his rematch with Lesnar at UFC 100. 

Born-May 24^th, 1979

Hometown-Las Vegas, Nevada

Height-6’3”

Weight-245 lbs

Reach-79”

Wins-12

Losses-3 

Frank Mir vs Brock Lesnar - UFC 81