UFC: Cuban-American Frank Mir Mauls "Big Foot" Silva

ESPN

As it turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir snapped a four-fight losing streak on Sunday, knocking out Antonio Silva less than two minutes into the UFC Fight Night main event in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The official time of the stoppage was the 1:40 mark.

Fighting for the first time in one year, Mir (17-9), traditionally a southpaw, came out in an orthodox stance. The unexpected switch might have thrown Silva for a loop, as he threw just three total strikes in the fight.

Mir, 35, credited the switch to his new Las Vegas-based boxing coach, Angelo Reyes. He said he took nearly one year off to heal from injuries -- and re-learn how to box from a new stance.

"I came out looking for the jab," Mir said. "I knew he hits hard. There was no doubt about that. He has a long right hand. I wrestle left side forward and my head coach said, 'Switch back to orthodox.' So, I did. That's why I took extra time off. I learned how to box the correct way. The jab sets up everything. I've never had a dominant jab."

The victory marks the 13th finish of Mir's career, but only his fourth knockout. It is his 15th win inside the Octagon -- the most ever in the UFC's heavyweight division.

The jab was undoubtedly effective for Mir, as he set up both of his early combinations with it. A short flurry caught Silva against the fence in the opening moments of the fight.

After a feeling-out process between the two after that, Mir landed the left hook that dropped the big Brazilian.

Referee Mario Yamasaki gave Silva (18-7-1) every opportunity to recover. Mir stepped over his opponent and rained down punches with both hands. He then switched to a series of elbows, which knocked Silva out cold. It is the sixth knockout loss of Silva's career and third in his last four fights.

Mir earns his first victory a comeback submission victory against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in December 2011.

"This is me," Mir said. "I took time off. I rested. I was banged up. I've been facing top-five guys, four fights in a row, hindered, injured and not 100 percent. I have that 'never say die' attitude. I never turn down fights. I'd sit there and strap up, tape up and everybody would be looking at me saying, 'that's the worst training camp ever.' I said, 'I'll make it work.'

According to immediate cageside stats by Fightmetric, Mir landed a total of 10 strikes in the fight.

Silva, who missed time late last year to undergo surgery to remove a tumor near the base of his brain, landed one.
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