Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir won’t be making his return to mixed martial arts competition anytime soon.
Mir was among the veteran names to sign with the newly created Global Fight League ahead of its inaugural draft this past January. The 45-year-old was ultimately picked alongside Andrei Arlovski for Team Los Angeles.
And Mir was also among the first to have their opening matchup announced on social media, with the Las Vegas native penciled in to share the cage with a fellow former UFC champ in Fabrício Werdum of Team São Paulo.
But those plans will be put on hold after Mir revealed in a post on Instagram that he “underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of (his) entire thoracic spine.”
“I wanted to take a moment to update you on my health and share a bit about my recent journey,” Frank Mir wrote. “As many of you know, I’ve been dedicated to martial arts since I was just four years old. My love for hard training has driven me to push my limits as a professional athlete. However, this passion comes with its challenges.
“Recently, I faced a significant hurdle: I underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of my entire thoracic spine. Although it was a tough decision, I’m happy to report that the surgery was a complete success!
“Now, I’m diving into rehabilitation and focusing on my recovery. This is just another challenge that I intend to overcome, and I’m committed to coming back stronger, both mentally and physically, than ever.
“Thank you all for your support during this time. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I can’t wait to share my progress with you.
“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”
Mir, who boasts a 19-13 record in pro MMA, last competed under the Bellator banner in 2019. He outpointed fellow vet Roy Nelson to record his first victory in five fights and four years.
It remains to be seen when the 45-year-old, who beat the likes of Brock Lesnar, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia, and Mirko Cro Cop during his prime in the sport, will return to the cage.
