Frank Mir: MMA is bigger in Canada
Canada may be our home and native land, but according to Frank Mir it may also be a more natural…
Canada may be our home and native land, but according to Frank Mir it may also be a more natural home for mixed martial arts.
The former UFC heavyweight champion, who trains in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, has developed an affinity for all things Canadian in the time he has spent here, including a unique perspective on his sport’s popularity outside of the U.S.
“I think in Canada, MMA is bigger than it is in the States to be honest with you,” remarked Mir. “I’m recognized everywhere I go in the U.S., but definitely there seems to be a much warmer acceptance in Canada. I go into a restroom and the bathroom attendant is talking to me about my last fight. Everywhere I go.”
“I don’t know why, I don’t know enough about Canadian history, but it just seems like the combat sport thing doesn’t seem to scare off people in the same way. Sometimes in the States, we’ve had the real slow progress to move over. We have boxing but it seems like a lot of people have just had a prejudice against our sport. I don’t think we ran into the same problem in Canada, it seems readily accepted,” Mir said, candidly.
“I guess if you watch guys get beat up in hockey, UFC is not that big of a deal,” he added.
Mir has yet to fight in one of the UFC’s events in Montreal, but he hopes to get a chance to enter the octagon north of the border soon.
“I think it would be awesome,” he said candidly.