Mir makes his own breaks

The moment Tim Sylvia's right arm snapped was the high point.

The moment Frank Mir's left leg was shattered soon after became the low point in a career defined by broken bones.

So it's no surprise that Mir, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, talks so casually about the possibility of breaking his opponent's arm Saturday night.

Mir will fight former professional wrestler Brock Lesnar at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in a nontitle heavyweight bout that is drawing more attention than the heavyweight title matchup that will follow.

Lesnar figures to enter the octagon at the UFC heavyweight limit of 265 pounds, but Mir isn't worried about being outweighed by as much as 20 pounds.

"The toughest guys to fight are the guys who are thin, lean, long and their arms twist all the way out," Mir said. "And the longer it takes for me to break a bone, the longer you have to escape. If you are a big, thick, muscle-bound guy who screams (as soon as an armbar is applied), then how long do you have to get out of the submission?"

A callous statement like that from some fighters might seem barbaric, but it sounds matter-of-fact coming from Mir, who is on the verge of returning to the top of the division he once conquered.

RISE TO CHAMPION

A Las Vegas native, Mir began studying at his parents' karate school at a young age.

But it was a viewing of the first-ever UFC pay-per-view event in 1993 that triggered Mir's interest in other fighting disciplines.

"I have always been a student of martial arts, and I watch what other people are doing," he said.

Mir went on to win a state wrestling championship at Bonanza High School and became proficient in jiu-jitsu.

A chance meeting with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva propelled Mir into the organization after two fights in smaller promotions.

Mir went 5-1 in his first six UFC fights, displaying agility rarely seen in the heavyweight division. His success earned him a title shot against Sylvia for the vacant heavyweight belt.

Mir broke Sylvia's arm with an armbar 50 seconds into the bout to win the title.

With the belt around his waist, Mir prepared for his first title defense as he planned his wedding. Things could not have been going better.

Then came Sept. 17, 2004.

THE ACCIDENT

Mir was thrown 90 feet and nearly killed when a car struck his motorcycle on West Sahara Avenue. His femur was broken, and he suffered torn tendons and muscles in his leg.

Mir made it down the aisle on crutches 10 days later to marry his wife, Jen, but his career was in shambles.

Unable to fight for nearly 18 months, Mir was forced to forfeit his title.

When he finally returned, he wasn't the same fighter.

His conditioning was poor, and Mir struggled to a 1-2 record in his first three fights back in the cage.

His lackluster performances had many wondering whether he would return to form.

Even Mir wasn't convinced.

Despite his difficulties, Mir's family never let him quit.

"I don't want to make believe to anybody that I did it on my own," he said. "I had no faith in myself. My wife, my family and my children, they're the ones that dragged me through it kicking and screaming. I didn't want to fight anymore."

The family still is part of Mir's career.

The couple's daughter (Isabella, 4) and son (Kage, 2) often attend his training sessions with Jen and her son Marcus (15), whom Mir helps raise and is in the process of formally adopting.

COMEBACK TRAIL

In his fourth fight back, Mir dominated Antoni Hardonk in August and now has a chance to jump back into the mix of contenders in the heavyweight division with a win over Les-nar.

"In his last fight, I thought he showed a lot of improvement," said Sylvia, who, ironically, will be fighting for the heavyweight title again in the co-main event Saturday. "He's starting to come back around and figure out how to train with the injuries he has. I pick him as a winner in the first round.''

UFC president Dana White agreed, saying that a win Saturday, plus one more, probably would mean Mir would get a title shot. But White doesn't see the injuries as the only thing that has stood in Mir's way in the past.

"The thing with Frank is that the kid has always been incredibly talented, but he never had to work hard at it," White said. "He's a lot like BJ Penn. As the window is starting to close, they think, 'Did I (waste) my talent? I better jump on top of this and take it serious so I can make my mark.'

"Now, obviously, the guy got hit by a (expletive) car. That's pretty serious. But I think it's been more mental with Frank than physical."

Mir seems more concerned with fine-tuning his skills than leaving a mark. He hopes to teach and train fighters when his career is over, and he thinks the best way to acquire the skills necessary to do that is to compete against the best.

"As a fighter, my goal was always to compete against real martial artists," he said. "I hate it when people teach martial arts and I know they couldn't last 30 seconds in a real fight. That's ridiculous.

"It's like trying to learn how to please your wife from a nun or a priest."

Though he speaks of the competition and artistry of his sport and his desire to pass on what he has learned, it is apparent that adding Lesnar's arm to his list of broken bones wouldn't bother Mir.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or (702) 224-5509.