Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
Frank Mir is heading to the world of bare knuckle fighting.
Sources close to the situation confirmed to MMA Fighting that Mir has signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship following an initial report from Fight Bananas.
Mir makes the transition after a professional MMA run that spanned nearly two decades. The 41-year-old made his UFC debut in his third fight at UFC 34 in November 2001. After a 5-1 start in the octagon, Mir became the UFC heavyweight champion for the first time after submitting Tim Sylvia in just under a minute at UFC 48.
He would go on to capture UFC gold again in 2008, finishing Antonio Rogerio Nogueria at UFC 92 to become the interim heavyweight champion. Mir lost the title in his next fight to Brock Lesnar at UFC 100 seven months later.
Following a nearly 15-year run with the UFC, Mir signed with Bellator MMA in 2018. After losing his first two fights to Fedor Emelianenko and Javy Ayala, Mir would pick up a win over Roy Nelson at Bellator 231 this past October in, what could turn out to be, his final mixed marital arts bout.
No word on when Mir would make his first BKFC appearance, and what his role would entirely entail.