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He Has Asked The UFC For His Release
Frank Mir
was fighting in the UFC when it wasn’t cool. The dark days of MMA —
2001. Mir turned pro in the summer of 2001, and by November he was
fighting at UFC 34, which is almost universally considered the turning
point for the UFC after Zuffa purchased the company. Mir went on to snap
Tim Sylvia’s arm to win the heavyweight title before he even had 10
fights to his name, would sit out for over a year and have his belt
stripped after a motorcycle accident, then time after time be front and
center in some of the biggest moments in UFC heavyweight history.
Now, the 27-time UFC fighter could be on his way out of the company due
to a failed drug test and a two-year ban from the sport.
According to Mir, the B sample that was flagged as positive after his loss to Mark Hunt in Australia last March
has led to a two-year ban, even though he’s been trying to have his
sample cleared by other labs in the United States. Mir explained on
Ariel Helwani’s show that the failed sample and his A sample can be
tested at his expense. If he wants to view the work himself, he can pay
his own way. This led to Mir considering his options and deciding that
the cost of a lawyer, travel, and lab work wouldn’t be worth it,
especially if he lost.
This has led him to ask for his release from the UFC, he revealed on The MMA Hour.
Helwani then asked if Mir had brought up his potential release to the UFC brass.
broke up, maybe with Dana White cutting his internet access for all we
know. He quickly hopped on his cell and continued the conversation with
Helwani, questioning how Brock Lesnar, his greatest rival, was able to
get drug testing that was convenient thanks to the UFC, but the company
that he’s called home for 15 years wasn’t able to do the same for him.
It’s unfortunate to think that
this could be the end of Frank Mir in the UFC after all of these years,
and what makes it worse is that he seems to want to fight it, but simply
can’t. Unfortunately, it’s another scenario in which a fighter needs
money, and can’t seem to make it.
Frank Mir
was fighting in the UFC when it wasn’t cool. The dark days of MMA —
2001. Mir turned pro in the summer of 2001, and by November he was
fighting at UFC 34, which is almost universally considered the turning
point for the UFC after Zuffa purchased the company. Mir went on to snap
Tim Sylvia’s arm to win the heavyweight title before he even had 10
fights to his name, would sit out for over a year and have his belt
stripped after a motorcycle accident, then time after time be front and
center in some of the biggest moments in UFC heavyweight history.
Now, the 27-time UFC fighter could be on his way out of the company due
to a failed drug test and a two-year ban from the sport.
According to Mir, the B sample that was flagged as positive after his loss to Mark Hunt in Australia last March
has led to a two-year ban, even though he’s been trying to have his
sample cleared by other labs in the United States. Mir explained on
Ariel Helwani’s show that the failed sample and his A sample can be
tested at his expense. If he wants to view the work himself, he can pay
his own way. This led to Mir considering his options and deciding that
the cost of a lawyer, travel, and lab work wouldn’t be worth it,
especially if he lost.
This has led him to ask for his release from the UFC, he revealed on The MMA Hour.
I’m
still suspended and I’m not allowed to fight or broadcast and I have to
think about my savings and I have children. I made a calculated
decision to forego fighting it further. Even if it was a reduced
sentence of one year, I have children that are very active and are in
private school and different endeavors fighting and (no work) for a year
let alone two years isn’t feasible. Hopefully, the UFC the would just
release me so I can follow broadcasting and fighting in different
avenues.
still suspended and I’m not allowed to fight or broadcast and I have to
think about my savings and I have children. I made a calculated
decision to forego fighting it further. Even if it was a reduced
sentence of one year, I have children that are very active and are in
private school and different endeavors fighting and (no work) for a year
let alone two years isn’t feasible. Hopefully, the UFC the would just
release me so I can follow broadcasting and fighting in different
avenues.
Helwani then asked if Mir had brought up his potential release to the UFC brass.
Yeah I already put that in motion when it first happened
after I realized two weeks ago, three weeks ago the situation in its
entirety and looked at my savings account and what my kids cost to
raise, I realized I have to go make a living. Being tied up not being
able to fight, to not broadcast or do other analytical work…
At that point, Mir’s Skype feed after I realized two weeks ago, three weeks ago the situation in its
entirety and looked at my savings account and what my kids cost to
raise, I realized I have to go make a living. Being tied up not being
able to fight, to not broadcast or do other analytical work…
broke up, maybe with Dana White cutting his internet access for all we
know. He quickly hopped on his cell and continued the conversation with
Helwani, questioning how Brock Lesnar, his greatest rival, was able to
get drug testing that was convenient thanks to the UFC, but the company
that he’s called home for 15 years wasn’t able to do the same for him.
It’s unfortunate to think that
this could be the end of Frank Mir in the UFC after all of these years,
and what makes it worse is that he seems to want to fight it, but simply
can’t. Unfortunately, it’s another scenario in which a fighter needs
money, and can’t seem to make it.
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