What Doesn't Kill You Will Make You Stronger-The Frank Mir Story
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UFC Fighter, Frank Mir has found the old cliche to be very true. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. It's an old adage that sums up his life as a fighter.
Early Life
Born on May 24, 1979 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Francisco Santos Mir III learned the art of karate at his father's Kenpo school.
Frank took up wrestling in high school in an attempt to defend against submission holds. He lost his first nine matches but did not give up and ended up in the state championships in his senior year.
Mir also played football and was a discus thrower in track and field then later he received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Being Discovered
Mir was discovered by the UFC matchmaker, Joe Silva. He then began his MMA fighting and debuted against Jerome Smith at HOOKnHOOT: Showdown which was on July 14, 2001. He won by unanimous decision five minutes into the second round.
It was early in the first round that Frank won his second fight by triangle choke. It was at IFC Warriors Challenge and took place on August 15.
On November 2, 2001, Frank debuted in the UFC at UFC 34: High Voltage. He went up against Roberto Tavern who was the former ADCC Submission Wrestling World Champ and also a 6th degree black belt iin Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
One minute and five seconds in round one, Mir defeated Tavern via armbar which earned him the "Tapout of the Night" award.
It was just two UFC events later at "Worlds Collide" that Mir defeated Pete Williams.
Mir won the match by giving Williams the first submission of his career via a shoulder lock that was later named in Mir's honor.
After the loss, Williams retired.
Just two UFCs later, Frank went up against another opponent, Ian Freeman at UFC 38: Brawl in the Hall.
It was a loss for Frank Mir. Freeman came out strong with elbows and punches that exhausted Frank and eventually cut his face which called the referee to stop the fight in the first round.
Next up was David "Tank"Abbott. The fight took place in February of 2003 and forty-six seconds into the bout, Mir defeated Abbott via submission by a toe hold.
UFC Matches
It was at UFC 43: Meltdown that Mir took on Wes Sims. As it turned out, Sims was the one with the meltdown, illegally stomping Frank's face in round one. He was disqualified which marked yet another win for Frank Mir.
A rematch was held at UFC 46: Supernatural on January 31, 2004, New Years Eve when four minutes and twenty-one seconds into round two, Mir was victorious again, winning by knockout.
Then Frank went out for the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship title. The fight was held on June 19, 2004 at UFC 48: Payback in a highly anticipated event that drew more pay-per-view viewers than UFC 47 with Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell.
The Silva Fight
Mir's bout against UFC 41 Champion, Tim Sylvia did anything but disappoint. He came out fast and furious and with fury, breaking Sylvia's arm in an armbar attempt in the fight.
It happened as Sylvia was trying to get out of the hold and Mir pulled back hard, which caused the bone to break. Sylvia swore it was not broken but the fight was stopped, Mir declared the winner only fifty seconds into round one.
Sure enough, x-rays taken after the fight proved that Sylvia's arm was broken and Mir was declared the new Champion of the UFC Heavyweight division and was also awarded his Brazilian black-belt.
Tragic Accident
Just at the time Mir was making a name for himself in MMA, fate would take a twist.
On September 14, 2004, Frank was riding his motorcycle to work out and was side-swiped by a car going 50 miles and hour.
He was thrown over 30 yards and was then slammed into the pavement which caused a leg injury so bad that Joe Rogan, UFC commentator described it as such, "People have their legs amputated for this type of injury."
When he could not defend his title, it was stripped from him.
But Frank kept the faith so instead of being angry or becoming bitter. Het out to rehabilitate his leg and regain the title that was lost. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. That was his new motto and his one and only focus.
His Return
He returned to the ring for UFC 57 which was held on February 4, 2006. He was set to fight third degree Jiu-Jitsu black-belt, Marcio Cruz.
Frank lost the fight due to TKO in the first round but showed his tenacity and determination just going into the ring.
The next contender on the list was Dan Christison at UFC 61: Bitter Rivals. In a dull and sloppy and fight, an out of shape and overweight Mir won by unanimous decision in round three.
Mir went up against Brandon Vera in a more successful fight at UFC 65: Bad Intentions. He displayed his boxing skills and was lighter on his feet but Vera got him with a straight right and forced him to his knees where Vera, using elbows and punches by side control.
One minute and nine seconds into round one, Mir lost by TKO.
Visibly shaken, Mir later commented , "I lost to a guy that shouldn't even have been a heavyweight."
The old Mir would return and those were his exact words as he exited the ring after winning at UFC 74 against Antoni Hardonk with a kimura in the first round. "I'm back!" he told the crowd.
February 2, 2008 was Mir's next fight and was at UFC 81: Breaking Point against the former WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Champion, Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar immediately took Mir down with illegal punches to Mir's back.
Lesnar took Mir down once more then Mir escaped an armbar attempt and came back with a kneebar which resulted in Lesnar tapping out one minute and thirty seconds into the first round. Mir became the first and only fighter to date to defeat Lesnar.
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter television MMA reality show began it's eighth season premier in September of 2008.
In the show, Frank coached opposite Antiono Rodrigo Nogueira then the two later took on a fight of their own at UFC 92 for UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion.
The winner of the fight would face off with the winner of Couture vs. Lesnar. Frank did well showing off his boxing skills and skilled striking ability and won the fight by TKO in round two due to strikes. Lesnar won against Randy Couture making him Mir's next opponent. The bout took place at UFC 100 in July of 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada and was for the title. The rematch would not go well for Mir, however because one minute and forty eight seconds into the second round, the fight was stopped and Lesnar won TKO.
On December 12, 2009, Mir took on professional French heavyweight MMA artist and kickboxer, Cheick Kongo. Mir came on early with a left overhand, dropping Kongo followed by strikes then a guillotine choke. He won the fight one minute and twelve seconds into round one.
Where Is Mir Now?
Future plans for Mir include a fight with Shane Carwin for the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship on March 27, 2010 and a possible third go round with Lesnar.
Besides MMA, Mir enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer and their children. He is currently ranked #3 by Sherdog.
Although it would appear to some that Mir falls short at times and appears to others to have been shorted, Frank Mir seems to just keep on keeping on...no matter what.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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