Frank Mir talks about how he almost killed Jason “Mayhem” Miller in training

Frank Mir, a name synonymous with elite grappling and heavyweight MMA, has a storied history both inside and outside the octagon. As a former UFC heavyweight champion, Mir is renowned for his record-breaking submissions, which have earned him both respect and fear among peers. However, his intense training methods have also led to alarming incidents, including a close call with Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller.

Frank Mir’s Grappling Legacy

Mir’s achievements in the UFC cement him as one of the greatest grapplers in heavyweight history. Among his accolades are:

• Most submission wins in UFC heavyweight history (8).
• Fastest submission in UFC heavyweight history (45 seconds).
• The only toehold submission victory in UFC history.

Mir’s technical prowess is legendary, especially his arm-breaking submissions against Tim Sylvia and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, both of whom refused to tap. This same intensity often carries over to the training mats, where Mir applies his submissions slowly yet effectively, leading to serious injuries for training partners who underestimate the danger.

A Relentless Training Philosophy

Speaking on the JAXXON podcast, Mir explained his approach to training submissions. “I do a submission slow, so I can apply pressure gradually,” he said. “If you’re not tapping, I assume the move isn’t working. But if you’re one of those guys who just doesn’t want to tap, don’t train with me, because I’m going to mess you up.”

Mir shared a shocking story involving a Division 1 national champion wrestler. During a session, Mir secured a kneebar and applied pressure. When the wrestler didn’t tap, Mir assumed the hold wasn’t tight enough. “Next thing I know, his leg folds. He screams. Forrest Griffin, rolling next to us, just looked over and said, ‘That was stupid. You should’ve tapped.’”

The Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller Incident

Mir also discussed a near-tragic moment with Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller, a fellow MMA fighter. Although he withheld specific details, Mir hinted that the situation mirrored other training incidents where his partner ignored the risk of injury. While Miller escaped serious harm, the story underscores the high stakes of training with someone as skilled and uncompromising as Frank Mir.

A Hard Lesson for Training Partners

Mir’s experiences emphasize a crucial point: knowing when to tap out is vital. Training with a grappling expert like Mir requires humility and self-awareness to avoid serious injury. For Mir, submission grappling is more than a sport—it’s about mastering technique while respecting physical limits.

If nothing else, these stories highlight why Frank Mir remains one of the most feared names in MMA history.