Frank Mir is one of the most decorated heavyweight fighters in UFC history, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, but he's not fighting in America anytime soon.
Mir is currently serving a two-year suspension after a failed drug test for oral turinabol metabolites, which came after a loss to Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir.
Mir is now looking to get out of his UFC contract, which will allow him to compete overseas in Russia and Japan -- something the fighter has been dreaming of.
"I am [still under contract with the UFC] but I am trying to get out of it," Mir said to Cageside.ru. "They are not going to utilize me as a fighter, and I am not getting any younger. Even if they do not let me go after my suspension, when I'm up and able to fight again, I really would like to step outside. Fighting here and in Japan are two dreams of mine to be able to accomplish. Fighting in different types of fights [is something I'm interested in]. As of right now, UFC only allows me to fight MMA. I am going to have to retire. Eventually, time is going to catch up to all of us, and I am no different."
Besides competing in MMA fights overseas, Mir would like the opportunity to compete in kickboxing and boxing as well.
"I never got to do a kickboxing match. I have only fought an amateur boxing match. I want to do a professional boxing match,” Mir said. “You know, I always wanted to test myself and find out different things. Right now, I am being limited in what I'm able to do before I enter full-time coaching. I want more experience in different aspects of the sport. My goal is to do at least five K-1 rule kickboxing matches, five professional boxing matches before I retire."
USADA has no jurisdiction outside of the United States, so Mir technically can fight outside of the country and potentially return stateside to compete as well when his suspension is over.
