Report: Frank Mir inks deal to join Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has added to their ever-growing roster once again. Former UFC heavyweight champion and Bellator contender, Frank Mir has inked a deal to bring his talents to the David Feldman led outfit.

Mir joins a lengthy list of UFC alumnus to join the Philidelphia based promotion, following the recent signature of former UFC flyweight and strawweight challenger, Paige ’12 Gauge’ VanZant. To go with both Mir and VanZant, former Octagon features, Chris Leben, Artem Lobov, Héctor Lombard, Julian Lane, Joey Beltran, and Bec Rawlings have all featured in bare-knuckle boxing. News of Mir’s signing was initially penned by reporter, Ross Markey.

Las Vegas born submission artist, Mir – claimed the undisputed UFC heavyweight title back in 2004 opposite Tim Sylvia, with an arm breaking fifty-second armbar win. Four years later, following a string of three wins, including a kneebar win over Brock Lesnar – Mir became the first competitor in history to finish ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira with strikes, at UFC 92 – earning him interim division spoils.

Following an opening-frame knockout to veteran, Mark Hunt in March 2016 – the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt transitioned to Bellator MMA, dropping defeats to PRIDE FC icon, Fedor Emelianenko and Javy Ayala, before a second career win over Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson at Bellator 231 in October last year.

His rematch win over Nelson marked the end of his Bellator contract, with the ACB colour-commentator testing free-agency from April this year. As of writing, an opponent or date for Mir’s BKFC debut has yet to be determined.

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.