Of Tragedy And Triumph: The Frank Mir Story
What doesn't kill you will make you stronger
What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. Although it's an old cliche but for UFC fighter,Frank Mir, the old adage is very true. 1:16:J
Early Life
Born on May 24, 1979 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Francisco Santos Mir III learned the art of karate at his father's Kenpo school.
Frank took up wrestling in high school in an attempt to defend against submission holds. He lost his first nine matches but did not give up and ended up in the state championships in his senior year.
Mir also played football and was a discus thrower in track and field then later he received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Being Discovered
Discovered by the UFC matchmaker, Joe Silva, Mir began fighting in the MMA. He debuted against Jerome Smith at HOOKnHOOT: Showdown on July 14, 2001. He won in the second round by unanimous decision.
His second opponent at IFC: Warriors Challenge was on August 15 and was a victory. He won in the first round by triangle choke in the first round.
On November 2, 2001, Frank debuted in the UFC at UFC 34: High Voltage. He went up against Roberto Tavern who was the former ADCC Submission Wrestling World Champ and also a 6th degree black belt iin Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
One minute and five seconds in round one, Mir defeated Tavern via armbar which earned him the "Tapout of the Night" award.
Mir then won again, two UFC events later against Pete Williams at "Worlds Collide".
Mir won the match by giving Williams the first submission of his career via a shoulder lock that was later named in Mir's honor.
After the loss, Williams retired.
Again, two UFCs later, Frank Mir faced off with yet another opponent. This time he was up against Ian Freeman at UFC 38: Brawl in the Hall.
It was a loss for Frank Mir. Freeman came out strong with elbows and punches that exhausted Frank and eventually cut his face which called the referee to stop the fight in the first round.
David "Tank" Abbott was next up for Mir in February of 2003. In forty-six seconds Mir defeated Abbott by submission via toe hold.
UFC Matches
He took on Wes Sims at UFC 43: Meltdown and obviously Sims was the one with the meltdown, illegally stomping Mir's face in the first round causing a himself to be disqualified and chalking up another win for Frank Mir.
There was a rematch on January 31, 2004 at UFC 46: Supernatural. It was another victory for Mir in round two by knockout.
Frank then went out for the UFC Heavyweight Championship title vacancy. The fight was held on June 19, 2004 at UFC 48: Payback and was a much anticipated event that drew more pay-per-view viewers than UFC 47 with Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell.
The Silva Fight
Mir did not disappoint the fans. Toe to toe against Tim Sylvia who was the winner of UFC 41 Heavyweight Championship, Mir came out fast and furious, breaking Sylvia's arm in an armbar attempt.
Sylvia had tried to get out of the hold and Mir pulled back harder causing the bone to break. Although Sylvia swore it was not broken, the fight was stopped and Mir declared the winner only fifty seconds into the first round.
Since X-rays taken after the fight proved that Sylvia's arm was clearly broken, Mir became the new UFC Heavyweight Champion and also was awarded his Brazilian black-belt for his performance.
Tragic Accident
But just as Mir was making a name for himself in the MMA world, fate would take a bad twist.
On September 14, 2004, Frank was riding his motorcycle to work out and was side-swiped by a car going 50 miles and hour.
He was thrown over 30 yards and was then slammed into the pavement which caused a leg injury so bad that Joe Rogan, UFC commentator described it as such, "People have their legs amputated for this type of injury."
When he could not defend his title, it was stripped from him.
Mir kept the faith so instead of being angry or becoming bitter, Frank Mir set out to rehabilitate his leg and regain the title that was lost. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. That was his one and only focus.
His Return
Mir returned to the ring in UFC 57 on February 4, 2006 where he would fight third degree Jiu-Jitsu black-belt, Marcio Cruz.
Though Frank Mir would lose the fight via TKO in the first round, he had shown his tenacity and determination just to walk into the ring.
Dan Christison was Mir's next rival. It took place at UFC 61 entitled Bitter Rivals. Though Mir did wiin the fight by unanimous decision in round three, it was a sloppy bout in which Mir was said to be out of shape and overweight.
In a more successful fight, Frank faced off against Brandon Vera at UFC 65: Bad Intentions and although he displayed his boxing skills and was lighter on his feet, Vera got him with a straight right and forced him to his knees. Then Vera, used elbows and punches by side control.
Mir lost by TKO only one minute and nine seconds into round one.
Visibly shaken, Mir later commented , "I lost to a guy that shouldn't even have been a heavyweight."
The old Mir would return. And those were his very words as he exited the ring after winning at UFC 74 against Antoni Hardonk with a kimura in the first round. "I'm back!" he told the crowd.
On February 2, 2008 Mir fought his next fight. It was at UFC 81: Breaking Point against the former WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Champion, Brock Lesnar.
Right off, Lesnar layed on some illegal punches to Frank Mir's back.
Lesnar took Mir down once more then Mir escaped an armbar attempt and came back with a kneebar which resulted in Lesnar tapping out one minute and thirty seconds into the first round. Mir became the first and only fighter to date to defeat Lesnar.
The Ultimate Fighter
In September of 2008, the Ultimate Fighter television MMA reality show began it's eighth season premiered.
In the show, Frank coached opposite Antiono Rodrigo Nogueira then the two later took on a fight of their own at UFC 92 for UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion.
The winner of the fight would face off with the winner of Couture vs. Lesnar. Frank did well showing off his boxing skills and skilled striking ability and won the fight by TKO in round two due to strikes. Lesnar won against Randy Couture making him Mir's next opponent. The bout took place at UFC 100 in July of 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada and was for the title. The rematch would not go well for Mir, however because one minute and forty eight seconds into the second round, the fight was stopped and Lesnar won TKO.
It was on December 12, 2009, Mir took on professional French heavyweight MMA artist and kickboxer, Check Kongo. Mir came on early with a left overhand, dropping Kongo followed by strikes then a guillotine choke which won the fight in round one.
Where is Mir Now?
Future plans for Mir include a fight with Shane Carwin for the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship on March 27, 2010 and a possible third match up with Lesnar.
Besides MMA, Mir enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer and their children. He is currently ranked #3 by Sherdog.
Although it would appear to some that Mir falls short at times and appears to others to have been shorted, Frank Mir seems to just keep on keeping on...no matter what.
by: CJ Jerabek
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