Mir wants to fight Fedor
Frank Mir: “Fedor Emelianko would be an awesome fight. I think we talked about maybe even Brock Lesnar.”
Ordinarily being released from a UFC contract means a return to the minor leagues, for short money, hopefully getting a good record and eventually returning to the world’s dominant mixed martial arts organization. However, for Frank Mir, it was a relief.
The former UFC heavyweight champion the most fights in UFC history (27), the most wins (16), the most finishes (13), and the most submissions (8). But he failed a test for Oral Turinabol metabolites, and speculated that it might have come from the ingestion of kangaroo meat. However, kangaroo meat in Australia is not farmed. Mir received a two-year suspension through April of 2018, and cannot work as a color commentator or analyst for FOX during that period. In order to fight in boxing or kickboxing or in MMA overseas beyond the reach of regulators, Mir has to be released from his UFC contract. And he was.
During an appearance on NBC Sports Radio with Helen Yee, Mir said the release was amicable, and that he wants to fight the division G.O.A.T. Fedor Emelianenko.
We had to come to terms on the situation and the end result was a mutual release,” said Mir as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. “Right now I’m trying to weigh all my options. We talked about who could possibly be opponents out there, so I’m thinking, more or less, what show offers who to fight. Fedor would be an awesome fight. I think we talked about maybe even Brock. So there’s different ideas out there and really there’s just endless possibilities.
I think Matt Mitrione is a super tough guy, very athletic but I think that I’d probably get more pay-per-view buys if I fought Fedor. Mitrione would probably elevate my status more, a victory over him at this point, towards moving up the rankings but I’m kinda past that part of my career. I’d rather fight named fighters and Fedor’s somebody I’ve always wanted to fight and I think that it would be nice to be able to complete that kind of Who’s Who of my resume.
I enjoy fighting. I want to fight for as long as possible. I don’t think I can fight at the same capacity that I fought in the past. The days of fighting three times in a year is probably over with. Once is probably gonna be more or less [the goal], or almost twice or three times in two years. Just enjoy martial arts, enjoy the lifestyle, and fight big fights. . .
Hopefully until I’m told I can’t do it anymore. I’m thinking maybe 45. If you just handle it smart, I think you can do it.
Mir is 38, so that is another seven years and perhaps ten fights he believes he has to go.