Frank Mir has decided that it is time to shake things up prior to his Heavyweight bout against Strikeforce transplant Daniel Cormier at UFC on Fox 7. For the first time in his career Mir, 33, will train for a fight outside of his hometown of Las Vegas.  He will be training out of Greg Jackson’s camp located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

After losing to Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, making it his third title shot loss in a row, Mir decided it was time to make a change. “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 said. “One of the things was maybe I should get out of town and get more focused.”

“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.”

Greg Jackson is well known as the best game planning head trainer in MMA. He has trained some of the best fighters in the world including Rashad Evans, and UFC’s Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. He has also gained the reputation that his fighters are boring to watch, but they win.

This is a fight that requires 100% focus on Mir’s part. Cormier is a solid up-and-coming Heavyweight who has made a name for himself after beating Josh Barnett to win Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2012. Mir will also have to contend with Cormier’s amazing punching power, which has taken him to victory in two of his last three fights. All six of Mir’s losses have come by TKO/KO.

Mir’s longtime trainer, Jimmy Gifford, will still be in his corner. “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.”

This will mark the second time these two have been scheduled to fight. Their first match was scrapped after Mir suffered an injury during his training camp. Then during Strikeforce’s last event Cormier called Mir out in his post-fight interview. When Gifford texted Mir about that Mir responded simply, “I’ll sign his cast after the fight.”

(QUOTES VIA espn)

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