UFC’s Frank Mir still can’t believe he’s joining Hall of Fame

When Frank Mir was first informed he would be inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame along with a list of some of the names who have been enshrined before him, Mir was in awe.

It was only after a conversation later in the gym that he became emotional.

"I was talking to one of my closest friends and training partners and I just told him about it in passing while we were stretching and he just stopped and looked at me and said, 'Do you realize that your children can bring your grandchildren and have something they can show them? You have belts and other accomplishments, but something like this is something your kid's kids can go to and look at to see who you were and what you've accomplished and the mark you've made on the world," Mir recalled. "When he put it in that perspective, it's when I really thought about it. I actually told him, 'Hey man, give me a second.' It kind of took the breath out of me. I didn't want to sit there and kind of tear up at the gym."

Mir, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champ and a standout wrestler and football player at Bonanza High School, at first had trouble associating himself with some of the past inductees when UFC president Dana White, who himself is enshrined, told him some of the people already inducted.

"When I just heard Dana rattling off some of the names it was just so humbling because it's like, 'Wow, I'm kind of the lowest man on the totem pole in that pool of people.' So in that aspect, it's very impressive and I'm just so happy," Mir said. "Everyone Dana said is a who's who. I can go anywhere in the country and people know who these guys are when you talk about a Mike Tyson or Greg Maddux or Andre Agassi. That right there, I'm just like, 'Well I'm not in the category with those guys.'

"I was kind of laughing when I came home and told my wife about it. She asked me, 'How do you feel?' I told her I'm the smallest fish in this pond. It's very much an honor and a privilege to be associated in that category, but I definitely am not of the legacy of some of those individuals."

Mir, the first MMA fighter to be inducted, is still active. He will fight Mark Hunt in Australia on March 20.

He said there was a time in his career when this type of award would have made him feel like someone is trying to tell him it's time to retire. But the 36-year-old said he has come to appreciate the accolades as they come.

Mir likened the honor to receiving his college degree and now he can move on and continue to pursue graduate school in the cage.

"I'm just being recognized for how far I've come so far," he said. "That's not to say it's just a mile marker. It's definitely a huge accomplishment. It's just one thing I've accomplished and I look to keep on accomplishing and pushing my legacy."

Mir will be enshrined along with former former major league outfielder Marty Cordova, longtime public servant Sig Rogich and the 1998 national champion UNLV men's golf team during a June 24 ceremony at Orleans Arena.

HENDERSON SIGNS WITH BELLATOR — Benson Henderson is no longer on the market.

The former World Extreme Cagefighting and Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champ has agreed to terms on a deal with Bellator MMA, the organization announced Monday.

Henderson posted a statement on his website.

"I'm beyond excited for this next phase of my career. It's a big move, like any move when switching employers or jobs after having worked somewhere for such a long time. I have to thank the Big Man upstairs for putting some amazing people in my life, my wife (first and foremost) and a lot of truly smart and insightful people behind the scenes who helped make the connections and negotiated this deal to bring it to fruition," he wrote. "I'd be remiss to not thank (UFC president) Dana White and (UFC CEO) Lorenzo Fertita for the opportunities they presented me, you guys have helped me change my life for the better and to be able to provide my family with the things I didn't have while growing up. For that I'll always have the utmost appreciation. Thanks for all the (advice) you guys gave too, both business wise and personal."

Henderson, 32, won his last two fights in the UFC and fulfilled his contract with a split decision victory over Jorge Masvidal in November. He took the UFC lightweight title from Frankie Edgar in February 2012 and successfully defended it three times before losing it to Anthony Pettis in August 2013.

Henderson went 2-2 over his next four fights before moving up to welterweight in 2015 for the final two fights of his UFC stint.

"Benson is a tremendous athlete who puts forth an exciting effort each and every time he steps into the cage," Bellator president Scott Coker said in a news release. "Whether he chooses to fight at lightweight or welterweight, he's without question a great addition to this promotion, and brings countless amazing matchups to the table. We're looking forward to having him put on a show for the great Bellator MMA fans that tune into Spike. We plan on announcing his Bellator debut in the very near future."

No announcement was made as to the terms of the deal or a timetable for his debut, though during an interview with ESPN Henderson indicated he would fight for either the lightweight or welterweight title in his first bout.

UFC 196 REBRANDED — With the main event lost and Saturday night's card at MGM Grand no longer airing on pay per view, the card will no longer be branded as UFC 196.

Instead, UFC Fight Night 82 will air at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports 1 with a welterweight contender bout between Stephen Thompson and former champ Johny Hendricks serving as the headliner.

The March 5 event, which features featherweight champ Conor McGregor against lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos, will now become UFC 196. Another numbered event is expected to be added in May or June in order to keep the organization on schedule to host UFC 200 on July 9 at T-Mobile Arena.

A heavyweight bout between Roy Nelson and Jared Rosholt will also be featured on the main card Saturday. The preliminary card will also air on Fox Sports 1, beginning at 5 p.m.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj