Frank Mir
Active 2001–present · rated in 2 editions · peak overall 85.0
Scouting report
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Frank Mir is a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and the all-time heavyweight submission leader in promotional history. Mir broke Tim Sylvia's arm at UFC 48 and submitted Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140, his submission arsenal anchored by a 94 BJJ rating, 86 Fight IQ, and 85 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
Mir authored submission victories between 2011 and 2013, breaking Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's arm with a kimura at UFC 140 in Toronto after a decision win over Roy Nelson, before challenging Junior dos Santos for the heavyweight championship at UFC 146 in Las Vegas. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt ground transitions, kimura locks, and submission danger are reflected in a 94 BJJ and 86 Fight IQ.
Mir lost a decision to Alistair Overeem in February 2014, then in 2015 knocked out Antonio Silva with elbows in round one in Porto Alegre, Brazil and Todd Duffee with a punch in round one that July, before Andrei Arlovski beat him on a decision in September. His southpaw counter-punching power, submission acumen, and veteran composure anchor his 84 Boxing and 92 BJJ.
Frank Mir and the arm that gave up in Toronto
Frank Mir is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who won by breaking limbs. He snapped Tim Sylvia's arm in 2004, beat Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with a kimura that broke his arm in 2011, and submitted Brock Lesnar with a kneebar in 2008. A motorcycle accident nearly ended his career, and he came back to win the interim title in 2008. He is the heavyweight to draft when the ground is where you want the fight to end.
Mir by the numbers
Boxing. Better than expected for a grappler. He had enough power to finish fights on the feet, which surprised people who saw him only as a submission man.
Kickboxing. Workmanlike. He picked his spots and did not rely on kicks to score.
Wrestling. Fine at pulling guard and getting the fight to where he wanted it, not a threat as a pure wrestler.
BJJ. The top of his card. His submission threats forced opponents to fight defensively from bad positions.
Strength. Strong enough at 88 to control heavy men on the mat.
Durability. Absorbed a lot in later years and was stopped by Junior dos Santos in 2012.
Cardio. Adequate. His best work came before the pace turned into a grind.
Fight IQ. A veteran's sense of when a grappling exchange was worth taking.
Jiu-jitsu turns any takedown into a danger
At 94 in BJJ, Mir is the most dangerous heavyweight once the fight hits the mat. He does not need to dominate to win. A single mistake on the ground with him can end it, and he has the record of broken arms to prove that these were not lucky finishes. In a game of matchups, he makes wrestlers nervous.
Kickboxing is where he leaks points
His 74 in Kickboxing is the lowest number on his card. A rangy striker can keep him at the end of a jab and never let him close to grapple. Junior dos Santos handled him that way in 2012. Put a fighter with a strong takedown next to him if you want another way in.
Keep exploring
Closest heavyweight profiles to Frank Mir, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueirabest bjj 94 · weakest kickboxing 70
- Aleksei Oleinikbest bjj 93 · weakest kickboxing 64
- Gabriel Gonzagabest bjj 88 · weakest cardio 76
- Ben Rothwellbest strength 89 · weakest kickboxing 76
- Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Frank Mir's strongest attribute, BJJ.
Draft Frank Mir into your build
Frank Mir enters the pool on any spin landing on heavyweight between 2010 and 2015. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Frank Mir is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Frank Mir's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.