Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Frank Mir and Fabricio Werdum each own one of heavyweight MMA's greatest submission wins ever. For Mir it was his arm shattering kimura victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira while Werdum scored a quick triangle over Fedor Emelianenko.
With Werdum set to make his return to the UFC at tomorrow's UFC 143, Mir spoke to Tatame and gave some significant props to Fabricio:
Frank Mir talked exclusively to TATAME Magazine said he's not the best grappler in MMA's heavyweight division.
The American, who in last December submitted Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, said this "title" belongs to a Brazilian. "When people compliment my Jiu-Jitsu I also say (Fabricio) Werdum's is better than mine", Mir said, who through his career defeated names like Brock Lesnar, Tim Sylvia and Roberto Traven using the gentle art.
Werdum will face another talented grappler tomorrow night when he faces Roy Nelson.
0 recs | 54 comments
*Cue the Frank Mir hate in 3....2....1....
Go!
RandyCouture'sDivorceLawyer - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Worst facial hair ever
menckenstein - February 3, 2012
90’s boy-band style
lolumad - February 3, 2012
id rather jump in with some fabricio hate
i think mirs sub or nog is waaaaay more impressive than werdum’s on fedor.
i sort of dont even put them in the same ballpark.
fontgangsta - February 3, 2012
Frankmirisoverrateddon’tknowwhatthefuckhe’stalkingabooutAMERICAheneedstoretirecausehesucksBROCKLESNAAAARRRR
Krimson - February 3, 2012
miguels right testicle
inthepipes - February 3, 2012
His tattoos are fucking dumb.
av1o3 - February 3, 2012
He may not be the best grappler
But IMO he is the most dangerous. If he has you in something, you better tap. He’s the pauhlares of kimuras.
F.U.B.A.R - February 3, 2012
Tell that to Vinny.
Patrick Tenney - February 3, 2012
I still don't understand
How Vinny didn’t tap to that armbar. His arms must be made of rubber.
Patrick Wyman - February 3, 2012
Vinny who?
I don’t get it.
Clifford J - February 3, 2012
Vinny Magalhaes – former TUF finalist and current world class grappler. He faced Werdum at ADCC last year and miraculously survived a super deep armbar:
Magalhaes vs. Werdum
Fraser Coffeen - February 3, 2012
that video is the craziest thing i have ever seen
probably makes georges st. pierre feel better about not submitting dan hardy!
what did werdum do wrong there? should he have been pulling harder on the arm?
Clifford J - February 3, 2012
As far as I can tell
He was doing everything right, Vinny just wouldn’t tap.
Patrick Wyman - February 3, 2012
So now the Muay Thai editor is a Jiu Jitsu editor?
My world is falling apart.
Sugel Mendoza - February 3, 2012
@ a tourney, Verdum had Vinny Magalesh (sp?) in a helluva armbar that he didn't tap to for around 45 seconds. He went on to win
Ziggy325 - February 3, 2012
Had something to do with the way he was holding Werdum's right ankle
Also he is Gumby.
menckenstein - February 3, 2012
Isn't this...
like saying that rain is wet?
Although it is nice to hear Frank isn’t delusional.
skeebop - February 3, 2012
DMX said the same thing, only he stay dry.
Krimson - February 3, 2012
With crack
warren305 - February 3, 2012
Francisco speaks the truth
PhinsAllDay - February 3, 2012
Frank is just saying that because he thinks he can sub Werdum
traydawg - February 3, 2012 via Android app
You might be on to something. lol
Call Werdum the best, fight him, sub him and now you are the best
PhinsAllDay - February 3, 2012
If he fought Werdum and tapped him...
I think he would be considered the best.
truck - February 3, 2012
Seriously...
Big Nog and Werdum in back-to-back fights? That’d be something to tell the grandkids about.
skeebop - February 3, 2012
nice
to see some magnanimity from Mir… that wud be a great fight i’m sure.
rohedron - February 3, 2012
Werdum vs. Mir is one of my SF vs. UFC dream fights, and the Mir sub of Nog only made me want to see it more. Really hope Werdum wins this weekend and we get that next (which is probably what Mir is hoping for as well).
Fraser Coffeen - February 3, 2012
Who do you think would win it?
I’m leaning toward Werdum, he might actually have the edge in striking technique, even if Frank does posses more power.
lolumad - February 3, 2012
If this question is raised again, I’ll answer if he wins this fight because I’m not too sure about hsi striking especially compared to Mir.
Plus what are the chances of Werdum scoring a takedown on the thickness that is Roy Nelson….even though he’s not as big as he once was.
Krimson - February 3, 2012
Werdum’s takedowns in grappling competition are pretty much off of the outside collar tie, something that isn’t going to happen in the cage against Roy, I don’t see him getting a TD easily.
Patrick Tenney - February 3, 2012
Did you judo chop that technique already? i swear I’ve heard takedown from a collar tie before. And is it because Roy isn’t a clinch type of fighter? Werdum has the range which may cause Roy to force himself on the inside.
Krimson - February 3, 2012
If Roy is smart
Which I think he is, he’ll avoid getting into a clinch battle. Werdum generates a great deal of his offense and pretty much all his takedowns from the clinch, as Patrick pointed out; that’s part of the reason Overeem was such a tough matchup for him.
Patrick Wyman - February 3, 2012
I haven’t judo chopped it but I have mentioned it repeatedly. Actually if you dig up my play by play of the ADCC competition and look at Werdum’s fights you’ll see “collar tie” repeatedly.
(Werdum typically grabs the back of the neck and then the bicep with his other arm, from there he drops into single legs/ankle picks/trips a lot, he’s not a blast double or a shot based TD artist).
Patrick Tenney - February 3, 2012
He has some solid throws, too
But I can’t remember him using them in no-gi or MMA settings, just gi competitions.
Patrick Wyman - February 3, 2012
If he tosses Big Country, I’m ripping off my pants
Krimson - February 3, 2012
That’d be worth the price of admission. The gifs of BIg Country jiggling whilst flying through the air would be priceless.
Patrick Wyman - February 3, 2012
you want more of these, is what you're saying
The Lethal Haze - February 3, 2012
YES
That is awesome.
Patrick Wyman - February 3, 2012
I am actually working on an article about Werdum’s striking right this second (well, RIGHT this second I am procrastinating by posting this, but you get the idea). But I think Mir has superior striking, and I’d pick him to win over Werdum.
Fraser Coffeen - February 3, 2012
I agree with you my good man.
Patrick Tenney - February 3, 2012
Yes please
Was gonna come in and say the same. Would love that fight as a #1 contender bout should Werdum win tomorrow. Put it on Fox 3.
Charles Awad - February 3, 2012
Not on Fox
That fight DOES have the potential to be pretty boring
Shaun32887 - February 3, 2012
Would be nice to see Barnett vs Mir/Werdum as well.
Ahriman4891 - February 3, 2012
Personally, one of my SF vs UFC dream fights is Josh Barnett vs Frank Mir. Werdum vs Mir is very good too though.
chrisbboy82 - February 3, 2012
As far as accomplishments in heavyweight no-gi grappling, yes. As far as an MMA grappler… maybe, maybe not.
Patrick Tenney - February 3, 2012
Agreed.
It’s been awhile since I watched the fight, but I’m pretty sure Nog outgrappled Werdum when they fought. I think he was able to sweep Werdum from half-guard a couple of times.
zorba - February 3, 2012
That was almost six years ago.
memitim - February 3, 2012 via mobile
I wet my pants at the idea of a Mir vs Werdum matchup, if Werdum beats Nelson.
Kenya_MMA - February 3, 2012
I’d rather see Barnett vs Mir.
Armleglegarm Head - February 3, 2012
Both are good matchups, but the dynamic between Catch and BJJ would be really interesting.
The trash talk between Mir and Barnett might also be phenomenal.
lolumad - February 3, 2012
I don’t think it’d outdo Carlos Newton vs Sakuraba though…but then again..that was amazing
Krimson - February 3, 2012
That’s because it seemed like those two had an understanding that neither was going to strike the other. Was awesome.
Patrick Tenney - February 3, 2012
Frank's one of my favorites. Glad he said something I didn't have to rationalize for a change
warren305 - February 3, 2012
He didn't say Werdum is the best.
He just said Werdum is better than him..
insamniac - February 3, 2012
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