Frank Mir isn’t buying into the Brock Lesnar Hype. Like many fighters who have worked their way up the long hard ladder to the top of the Octagon, Mir feels like Lesnar is still inexperienced and has a long way to go before he is considered the best in the world. Here’s what Mir told MMA Weekley:
“I think he’s improved a little bit, but I still think it takes a long time. No one picks this up in four or five fights,” said the UFC interim heavyweight titleholder. “What fighter have you seen yet that in four fights is unbelievably technical? We can go through any weight class you want. ”Lets look at Urijah Faber at his fourth or fifth fight. What was he compared to what he is now? If we go to Miguel Torres, if we go to St. Pierre, you can pick the best fighters in the world. How good are they on their fifth fight compared to how good they are now,” asked Mir. “We’re talking about world-class guys. We’re talking BJ Penn’s and stuff. Let’s be realistic – Matt Hughes. Come on. If Brock Lesnar is able to be a world-class mixed martial artist on his fifth fight, that means he’s the best mixed martial artist pound-for-pound that ever came into MMA. That’s a pretty steep statement there. We’re talking you’re up there with Anderson Silva and St. Pierre and Miguel Torres. That’s a pretty long, tall list to be on top of. If he does it, I’ll be impressed out of my mind”
‘My striking, now, is up to a level that I don’t think his is at. My jiu-jistu’s still at a level I don’t think his is at. Obviously he can out wrestle me, but it’s kind of like, okay, pick your poison,” stated the former UFC heavyweight titleholder. “Do you want to stand with me? I can’t take Brock down. If Brock wants to stand on our feet, it will be a stand-up war. Does he really want to stand up with me? Okay, Nogueira’s a much better boxer than he is and we saw what happened there. At the same time, does he want to shoot and take me down? That might not be the best thing either. So, he’s kind of really in a weird situation. ”I’m kind of curious what his plans will be, so I’m just preparing to go ahead and beat him at the stand-up and beat him on the ground.”
There you have it. When you get to the level that Frank Mir is at, it is hard to admit that someone is better than you. I guess that is what keeps these guys fighting. It’s less about the money and more about being the best in the world and taking on all challengers.
