Frank Mir open to facing Jon Jones in grappling match
UFC

Frank Mir open to facing Jon Jones in grappling match

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Frank Mir would like to compete in Submission Underground, possibly against Jon Jones.

Frank Mir is coming off a first-round knockout defeat to Mark Hunt last March. With that loss marking his second consecutive one so far and also facing a long suspension, the former heavyweight champion has been forced to contemplate his future and has some second thoughts about his professional fighting career.

"I am [still under contract with the UFC] but I am trying to get out of it," Mir said in October. "They are not going to utilize me as a fighter, and I am not getting any younger. Even if they do not let me go after my suspension, when I'm up and able to fight again, I really would like to step outside.”

Mir may have set aside MMA for now, but he remains open to testing himself in other combat sports. Speaking to FloCombat, the 37-year-old UFC veteran opened up the idea of possibly competing in Submission Underground.

"Yeah, absolutely. I'd be in a situation where I treat it just like fighting. I'd try to find out where I can be financially taken care of the best, especially as I'm not making an income from fighting.”

"I'll take advantage of that and then that way I'll be able to provide for me family,” Mir continued. “And that way I'll be able to compete and do what I love to do and give my children a reason why it's still advantageous for their dad to fight."

Mir is a long-time black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and is considered as one of the best grapplers in MMA. If he does end up competing in a grappling match, Mir named fellow former world champion Jon Jones as a possible opponent.

"Jon and I are friends and stuff so to compete against him would be fun. I agree with the way Jon thinks. To go out there and try to go with a 'Buchecha' or a Vinny Magalhaes right off the bat, that's a lot for a guy who hasn't specialized in that area.”

"Jon, myself, and guys in the MMA world have kind of specialized that. I think it would be smarter to at least take on a guy that lives in both worlds -- does MMA and submission grappling, just not a specialist who only does one. That's their world. You know the likes of a Gordon Ryan, it would be very difficult to go in at that level right off the bat."