Frank Mir – Complete Profile: Height, Weight, Fight Stats

Last updated on July 31st, 2020

Frank Mir is a former two-times Heavyweight champion. He is one of the best submission specialists in the history of UFC Heavyweight.

Athlete Statistics

Full Name: Francisco Santos Mir III
Born Name	Nickname	Age & DOB
Francisco Santos Mir III	N/A	Frank Mir is currently 44 years old according to his date of birth May 24, 1979.
Fight Stats	Height	Weight
19 Wins //13 Losses // 0 Draws	6 ft 3 in or 191 cm	265 lbs (120 kg)
Reach	Fighting Style	Association
79 inches (200 cm)	American Kenpo, BJJ, Wrestling	Bellator Team: Jackson Wink MMA Academy
Nationality	Net Worth	Born Place
American	$9 Million	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Profile

Frank Mir is known as an excellent grappler and submission expert. As a BJJ black belt, there is no submission Mir doesn’t know to apply. His leg locks are very dangerous. He is a master of a kneebar, armbar, guillotine choke, and kimura. Frank Mir has 9 submission victories.

When it comes to the stand-up, Mir offers a variety of takedowns, and his best takedown is a double leg off the clinch. He has very fast punches and extremely dangerous high kicks. His knees are also his ultimate weapon, especially in the clinch. Frank has an excellent left hook, and he can fight from both stances. He likes to intentionally pull guard and drag the opponents on the ground.

You don’t want to mount Frank Mir since he simply loves being on his back. For someone, it is a losing game but this is a perfect position for Mir! When he is on the top, he prefers punches over elbows and short ground strikes. He is a very unpredictable fighter who was winning the biggest names and losing from heavy underdogs. Frank is known for good strength and superb cardio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLUMsYdlKlc

UFC 191: Frank Mir – Top 3 Favorite Fights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLUMsYdlKlc)

Frank Mir – Record

Frank Mir is the second best MMA Heavyweight grappler of all time, after Fabricio Werdum. He is the only non-Brazilian who submitted Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Mir is on the first place for the biggest number of fights in the UFC – 27, alongside Tito Ortiz. His UFC career lasted from November 2, 2001, to July 8, 2017, when he was granted release from the UFC, after nearly 16 years.

The Road To The Top

Frank Mir had his MMA debut on July 14, 2001, at SF 11 event, in Evansville, Indiana, where he defeated Jerome Smith via unanimous decision. In the second fight, Mir faced Dan Quinn at IFC 15 on August 31, 2001, and earned a spectacular triangle armbar victory. After this fight, UFC signed him.

Frank Mir – UFC Career

Frank Mir had his UFC debut on November 2, 2001, at UFC 34, versus Roberto Traven, in Las Vegas, Nevada. After only 1:05 in the first round, Mir submitted his opponent via tremendous armbar.

His next opponent was Pete Williams, a superb striker who knocked Mark Coleman out via first head kick KO in the history of UFC. At UFC 36, on March 22, 2002, Frank Mir submitted him with ease via inside shoulder lock in the first round.

Mir survived his first UFC loss at UFC 38 on July 13, 2002, versus Ian Freeman, who won via TKO in the first round.

UFC 41 will definitively be remembered forever. The best puncher at that time, Tank Abbott, and a big underdog, Frank Mir, faced in the co-main event of the evening. But the underdog won after only 0:45 in the first round via toe hold, a submission that was never seen before! It was Mir’s fastest victory of the career.

At UFC 43, on June 6, 2003, his opponent, Wes Sims, was disqualified due to illegal kicking of the downed opponent (foot stomp) in the first round.

In the rematch against Wes Sims, Mir knocked him out cold at UFC 46 on January 31, 2004. As soon as the referee stood them up in the second round, Frank grabbed his opponent, delivering two knees in the clinch followed by two hooks, which forced Sims to fall like a wrecking ball.

Frank Mir – UFC 48 Title Shot

Frank Mir faced Tim Sylvia at UFC 48 on June 19, 2004. As soon as the fight started, Mir grabbed an armbar off his back but Sylvia declined to tap at 0:50 in the first round.

Herb Dean immediately stopped the fight after Mir broke Sylvia’s arm. The crowd was shocked and there were so many boos, but the instant replay showed the referee was right. Mir won via technical submission.

Frank Mir was stripped of the title after he had a motorcycle crash on September 17, 2004, and he didn’t fight for more than 18 months. Mir claimed he was grateful for that since it allowed him spending more time with his wife.

Mir faced Marcio Cruz at UFC 57 on February 4, 2006, and Marcio Cruz won via TKO.

His next opponent was Dan Christison at UFC 61 on July 8, 2006, and Frank won via unanimous decision.

Mir was defeated by Brandon Vera at UFC 65 on November 18, 2006, via TKO in the first round after only 1:09. This was the quickest defeat of his career.

Frank Mir demonstrated how good his submissions are at UFC 74 on August 25, 2007, where he submitted Antoni Hardonk via kimura.

Frank Mir Vs Brock Lesnar

Mir earned his first Submission Of The Night award at UFC 81 on February 2, 2008, where he submitted Brock Lesnar in the first round via kneebar. Despite Lesnar was standing on the top of him, he fabulously slipped out and locked Brock’s leg.

Frank Mir – UFC 92 Title Shot

Frank Mir faced Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on December 27, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the main event of the evening. Mir won via TKO in the second round and became the UFC champion.

Frank Mir Vs Brock Lesnar 2 – UFC 100 Title Loss

The two faced on July 11, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brock Lesnar was holding Mir on the ground for the whole first round. In the second round, Frank Mir pulled guard and Brock started delivering a barrage of right hooks and uppercuts on the ground. Brock Lesnar won the fight via TKO.

Mir defeated Cheick Kongo at UFC 107 on December 12, 2009, via technical submission (guillotine choke).

Frank Mir – UFC 111 Title Shot

Mir fought Shane Carwin on March 27, 2010, in Newark, New Jersey. Shane Carwin won the fight in the first round via TKO after a brutal barrage of punches on the ground in the first round.

Frank Mir made one more big surprise at UFC 119 on September 25, 2010. He knocked Mirko Cro Cop out in the third round via knee in the main event of the evening.

Mir defeated Roy Nelson at UFC 130 on May 28, 2011, via unanimous decision.

His next opponent was Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140 on December 10, 2011. In their rematch, Mir wrote history – he submitted the best BJJ competitor of that time via kimura in the second round and won the title for the second time. He earned Submission Of The Night award.

Frank Mir – UFC 146 Title Shot

Frank Mir faced Junior Dos Santos on May 26, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the main event of the evening. Mir delivered a strong knee to the rib, but dos Santos countered by tremendous right hook and sent him to the ground. Frank tried to stand up, But dos Santos delivered one more hammer fist and the referee stopped the fight. Junior dos Santos won via TKO in the second round.

He faced Daniel Cormier at UFC On Fox 7 on April 20, 2013. DC won via unanimous decision.

His next rival was Josh Barnett at UFC 164 on August 31, 2013. Barnett won via TKO (knee) in the first round.

Alistair Overeem defeated Frank Mir at UFC 169 on February 1, 2014, via unanimous decision.

Despite four losses in a row, Mir faced Antonio Silva in the main event of the evening at UFC Fight Night 61 on February 22, 2015. Mir knocked him down with a left hook, started raining punches and elbows on the ground and won the fight.

Frank Mir knocked Todd Duffee out at the main event of the evening of UFC Fight Night 71, on July 15, 2015. After Duffee missed a street-style right hook, Mir slammed left cross to his face and sent him to sleep.

Andrei Arlovski was the opponent at UFC 191, on September 5, 2015. Arlovski won via unanimous decision.

Frank Mir Vs Mark Hunt – Turinabol Controversy

Frank Mir faced Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night 85 on March 20, 2016, in the main event of the evening. The two fought in Brisbane, Australia. Hunt won via right hook KO in the first round. After the fight, Mir was notified by USADA that one of his samples was tested positive for oral Turinabol metabolites, but he stated he doesn’t know how this thing got in there.

Frank Mir retired from the UFC on July 8, 2017, and signed for Bellator on August 16, 2017. He is scheduled to face Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 198 Heavyweight Grand Prix on April 2018.

Frank Mir – Podcast

Frank Mir is the owner of Phone Booth Fighting. It is his official Podcast. He works together with Richard Hunter, an MMA commentator, and comedian. They broadcast two episodes per week. More info is available here – http://phoneboothfighting.com.