Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, who has been sidelined due to a USADA suspension since shortly after his March 2016 bout against Mark Hunt, has been granted his release from the promotion. Mir announced the news via his official Twitter account Saturday. The longtime UFC heavyweight had been asking for his release for some time.
I have been granted my release from #UFC -I just posted this episode of my @phoneboothfight podcast talking details: https://t.co/5LwBmNwypx
— Frank Mir (@thefrankmir) July 8, 2017
Mir (18–11) joined the UFC way back in 2001, winning his promotional debut against Roberto Tavern at UFC 34. He would go on to win the heavyweight crown at UFC 48, defeating Tim Sylvia. However, due to a motorcycle accident, he was later stripped of the belt.
Upon his return from injuries stemming from that accident, Mir would go on to have a memorable career in the promotion, obtaining interim heavyweight gold and fighting in a pair of bouts with Brock Lesnar. However, in 2016 he tested positive for dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT). That resulted in a two year suspension handed down earlier this year.
Mir has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The heavyweight’s release opens the door for Mir to work with Rizin FF or other promotions outside of USADA jurisdiction, as well as potentially signing up for a promotion like Bellator MMA once his suspension expires next year.
