Mir Issues Apology for Lesnar ‘Death’ Comments

Frank Mir’s mouth has him in hot water with UFC President Dana White.

In a recent interview with WXDX-FM, Mir said he wanted UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar “to be the first person that dies due to Octagon-related injuries.” The UFC has long touted its clean history of no fatalities or major injuries despite the inherent brutality of mixed martial arts.

Mir has fought Lesnar twice, handing the monstrous heavyweight his first and only defeat as a professional at UFC 81 in February 2008. Lesnar avenged the loss a little more than a year later, when he battered Mir en route to a one-sided second-round technical knockout at UFC 100.

Scheduled to face the undefeated Shane Carwin for the interim heavyweight championship at UFC 111 “St. Pierre vs. Hardy” on March 27 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Mir could soon find himself in position for a third match with Lesnar, who continues to recover from a career-threatening intestinal disorder. Mir, who also serves as a color analyst for World Extreme Cagefighting, issued a public apology on Tuesday in wake of the controversial interview.

“I would like to apologize to Brock Lesnar, his family, the UFC and the UFC fans for my stupid remarks,” he said in a statement released on UFC.com. “I respect Brock, all the other fighters and the sport of mixed martial arts. I’m sorry that I stepped out of line.”

White, meanwhile, denounced Mir’s comments.

“I was disappointed by Frank Mir’s comments,” White said. “Frank’s been with the UFC a long time; he’s a two-time heavyweight champion and a commentator for the WEC. I think his emotions are running high right now; he has a big fight coming up next month, and he’s still upset about his loss to Lesnar. He’s been talked to; he regrets what he said, and he won’t be saying anything like that again.”