Frank Mir to Train with Greg Jackson for Cormier Fight

Frank Mir

Greg Jackson Will Train Frank Mir for UFC on FOX 7

Veteran UFC heavyweight Frank Mir is the latest fighter to enlist the help of renowned MMA coach Greg Jackson.

The two-time heavyweight champion told ESPN.com he will work an eight-week training camp with Jackson in Albuquerque, N.M. , starting later this month for his upcoming fight with Daniel Cormier at UFC on FOX 7. This will be the first time Mir will train away from his hometown of Las Vegas.

“I’ve always felt I have great trainers so there was no reason to leave, but my wife and I were talking about how I needed to change things up,” Mir stated. “One of the things was maybe I should get out of town and get more focused."

After suffering a second-round knockout loss for the title to then-champion Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146, Mir decided it was time to retool his preparation.

“I’ve always been impressed with Greg Jackson’s game planning. I figured, before I retire, I want to be a part of that and see what makes this guy so successful.”

Mir has never spent more than four days without seeing his three children and there is no way he is lasting eight weeks without being in their presence. He intends on flying back to Las Vegas every weekend to be with his family.

Since starting a family, training has had to take a back seat to fatherly duties at times. The 33-year-old recently had to miss a workout to sign his daughter up for softball.

“I ended up working out in the garage with dumbbells,” Mir said. “I still got something in, but was it the same quality as if I went to the gym? No.”

Just because he is changing his preparation for a fight does not mean he is cleaning house in his corner. Jimmy Gifford, Mir’s longtime head trainer, will be joining Jackson in cornering duties on fight night. Gifford has no problems with Mir’s decision to train elsewhere and is glad to see his fighter is still trying to improve his game.

“Too many coaches want to make it about them. It’s about the fighter,” Gifford said. “Anything that makes my guy better, I’m fine with. This guy has been at the top of his game for years. For him to still search out ways to get better is great.”

Cormier comes into the UFC with a lot of recognition and big expectations. Along with being the last ever Strikeforce champion, the Olympic wrestler was also the Stikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament champion, and is undefeated in 11 career fights with notable wins over Jeff Monson, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Josh Bartnett. He most recently picked up a second-round TKO over Dion Staring at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine.

After the Staring fight, Cormier made a public plea to face Mir in April. Gifford was watching and texted Mir to see if he had been watching, too. Mir texted back, “I’ll sign his cast after the fight.”

“Level of competition is important,” Mir said. “He’s done most of his damage in Strikeforce. Not to downplay Strikeforce, but it’s not the UFC.”

“I think it’s going to be another one of those things where people are destined to be disappointed. After our fight, he’s already said he’s going to 205 pounds. That doesn’t sound like a confident guy who wants to stay at heavyweight.”

UFC on FOX 7 takes place April 20 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The event is headlined by a lightweight title unification bout between UFC champion Benson Henderson and Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez. Mir vs. Cormier will serve as the night’s co-main event.

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