Mir: ‘With all great power comes great responsibility’
The brainy behemoth UFC heavyweight Frank Mir talks about breaking bones, being a father and getting massages in his underwear…
The brainy behemoth
UFC heavyweight Frank Mir talks about breaking bones, being a father and getting massages in his underwear
How do you talk yourself into willingly inflicting pain on someone as your profession? How do you turn that switch off in your head?
It’s not really like that. How many kids in high school play football? I’m sure before the game, they’re not breaking it down like … I’m going to try to hit him and break his ribs so he can’t finish the game. I mean, is that what they’re doing? Yeah. But that’s not how they’re thinking of it. It’s a game. There’s that part of the human spirit that has to be cultivated that we have to be strong, we have to be warriors. As far as hurting another person, after I broke Tim Sylvia’s arm, we were having drinks at the House of Blues. That’s just the way it is; we’re all trained martial artists, but we’re all brothers.
You are an intelligent and articulate guy; did your family ever wish you had pursued a career that allowed you to use such skills more, especially since UFC wasn’t hugely popular when you began?
Yes, my dad still begs me after every fight, Can that be the last one? I understand where he’s coming from, because that’s the same approach I have with my children. I would train every day now regardless of whether I fought professionally. All my kids will train in martial arts; it’s a requirement. Do I want them to fight professionally? Hell no. If they ever step into a cage, I’ll cry. I would rather my daughter and sons be doctors and lawyers or wear a suit to work and use their brain and after work go train at the gym and spar hard. They could even do fights on the side, I just don’t want them to depend on it for income. It’s a stressful livelihood, because if you slip, break your ankle the week before a fight, then there’s no fight, there’s no paycheck.
