Frank Mir Interview
If there’s one thing that can be said about UFC heavyweight and current coach on The Ultimate Fighter 8 Frank Mir, he is never dull and usually a great interview. This time is no different as Mir got together with FiveOuncesOfPain.com for an intersting interview; Mir talked about this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter 8, Randy Couture’s return to the octagon and the motorcycle accident that nearly ended his MMA career. Below are some excerpts from the interview:
Gary Ibarra: The publisher of FiveOuncesOfPain.com recently wrote a piece about ESPN’s reaction to UFC 88 the upset victory of Rashad Evans over Chuck Liddell. He said that he was all set to write a piece chastising ESPN for its lack of coverage but was pleasantly surprised when SportsCenter aired a ringside satellite segment with Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg breaking down the fight and discussing the outcomes. How much effect do you think a show like TUF has on the perception of MMA to the mainstream sports media and the public in general who watch the show?
Frank Mir: I think the show goes a long way towards humanizing the sport and the guys. By having the cameras in the house it acts as sort of a window into the real lives of the people who take the sport seriously, and how they really are when they are not in the ring, they’re mostly just regular kids. I mean let’s face it, the public’s perception of MMA is not exactly fantastic. Every time guys like Tank Abbot or Krazy Horse (Charles Bennett) fought or even now with Kimbo Slice; every time Kimbo fights it sets the sport back. Guys like that just reinforce the idea in the public’s eye that we are all blood thirsty barbarians who just want to pummel each other and that there is no skill required. Guys like them do the sport a disservice.
Gary Ibarra: While the formula of the show usually involves playing up some of the confrontations between members of the cast and a little trash talking between the coaches as I’m sure this season was no different, how does it feel to go back and forth with someone whom you’ve said previously is like an idol to you?
Frank Mir: Anyone who’s expecting to see any animosity or back-and-forth between me and Noguiera, as is usually the case between coaches on the show, is going to be extremely disappointed. There wasn’t any of that. Sure there were times when I didn’t like him just as much as I’m sure there were times he didn’t like me, but we let our guys do the fighting for us. We definitely fought vicariously through them this season.
Gary Ibarra: This season I’m sure there are several fighters who you saw that have the potential to make a a career in MMA. But was there any one fighter that you can talk about who you saw that you thought immediately “That guy is going to make it”?
Frank Mir: That’s what I would say is the difference between this season’s cast and the previous casts: the talent level; there is a lot of depth here this season. So much so that I’ve even pulled training partners to help me prepare for my fight with Noguiera. The number of guys that you’ll see on undercards and prelims in the UFC is a definitely high with this group. I would go as far as to say its actually easier for me to pick out the guys who won’t make it just because there were so few of them, I would definitely put this season’s 16 guys against any of the other 16 from previous seasons.
Gary Ibarra: The list of people who were contestants or who have been coaches previously reads like an A list in the UFC: Liddell, Couture, Ortiz, Shamrock, Penn, Pulver, Griffin, and Jackson to name a few. Most of these guys are surefire Hall of Famers. Do you think adding Mir to this list means that you will be there as well?
Frank Mir: Yeah, I would say I will. Obviously it’s going to depend on my next couple of performances, but I do think my name belongs with those others, absolutely.
For the rest of this interview, click here.
