Former heavyweight champion Frank Mir granted release from UFC

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir had been sidelined with with a PED suspension for a while, and had been asking for his release from the organization so he could pursue other avenues in combat sports. Finally, after more than a year of discussing it with them, he was finally granted his release yesterday. He spoke about it on social media, and explained the whole situation on his Phone Booth Fighting podcast:

He had to give a little to get his release though. Namely, he won’t be able to fight until his USADA suspension is officially over:

“Now officially I’m no longer apart of the UFC. I finally have my release, it’s official. They put a couple of little contingencies in there. Basically because USADA is not able to regulate or has no ability to do anything outside of the authority of the UFC, they knew that once I was released technically I could go do whatever I want. So part of me not having to drag this battle out was I made a concession that I would wait until April, which is when the suspension would’ve ended anyway, to start fighting. Basically not to give a big f—k you to USADA I guess.”

Mir, who does color commentary for the ACB promotion in Russia, admits that he already has a “foot in the door” there, but insisted that he hadn’t come to terms with any promotion to fight as of yet.

Mir (18-11, 16-11 UFC) had been with the organization for over 15 years and won the UFC heavyweight championship in 2004. He also held an interim title in 2008. He was just 2-6 in his last eight bouts dating back to 2012, and hasn’t competed since a March 2016 loss to Mark Hunt. He was issued a two-year suspension by USADA after testing positive for turinabol from an in-competition test for the bout.