Midnight Mania! Mir Vs. Tarver is A ‘Win-Win’

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

As they become more and more common, unexpected crossovers from the cage to the boxing ring should perhaps become a bit less unexpected. Still, I don’t think anyone expected Frank Mir — seemingly retired from MMA and signed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship — to jump into the Triller ring on the undercard of the Ben Askren vs. Jake Paul event.

Just typing that out felt like a strange game of Mad Libs.

All the same, it’s happening, and Mir spoke with MMA Junkie to explain his thoughts on the match up and detail why he’d like to fight a former world champion boxer at the age of 41.

“It’s a great opportunity for a challenge,” Mir told MMA Junkie on Friday. “I’ve always wanted to step in the boxing ring. As mixed martial artists, we always like challenging ourselves at the individual aspects of what makes our sport the decathlon of the martial arts world. Competing against someone who is a legitimate former world champion (does that).

“Realistically, this is a win-win for me because I’ve got nothing to lose,” Mir said. “I go out there, and even if I were to lose the match – and I intend on really trying to win this fight – win it early, I don’t know about going 10 rounds. I go the distance and look good, that’s a victory for mixed martial arts. I know what it’s like to be the guy defending your sport against and outsider coming in (like I did against Brock Lesnar). It’s really nerve-racking, so the stress is really all on his end.”

Perhaps most interestingly, this doesn’t appear to be a one-off event for Mir. Even outside of the ring — gloved or otherwise — Mir is intent on chasing new challenges and trying his hand at different aspects of martial arts.

“Honestly, I would love to keep doing this,” Mir said. “I’m 41, and I’m having my own midlife crisis. My wife makes jokes about it all the time. Most guys go out there and get a girlfriend or a brand new Corvette to drive; I’m out there sitting going, ‘Hey, maybe I can go into boxing. Can I get into the K-1? What wrestling tournament can I get into?’ I’m trying to find these different ways, because I know my window of competition is closing on me.”

Now, can some submission grappling matchmaker hit up the former Heavyweight champion so we can actually see his foremost talent?

Insomnia

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Slips, rips, and KO clips

Here’s a brutal follow up to an already powerful left hook.

Rodtang is an absolute animal.

I have never seen an axe kick into lunging left hook setup before! It reminds me of Robert Whittaker’s knockout over Brad Tavares.

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Random Land

Take a closer look at the red planet:

Midnight Music: Lie la lie!

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.