Alex Apodaca entered Tuesday’s main event as the largest underdog in Dana White’s Contender Series history. Fifteen minutes later, she left the Meta APEX with a unanimous-decision victory and a UFC contract.
Apodaca defeated heavily favored prospect Bella Mir in the featured bout of Contender Series Season 10, Week 3 on August 25. All three judges scored the bantamweight contest 29-28 in her favor. The betting disparity made the result especially remarkable. Mir was listed as high as a -6000 favorite, while UFC’s official results listed Apodaca at +1200.
Despite the expectations surrounding her opponent, Apodaca never appeared overwhelmed by the occasion. She constantly changed stances, attacked Mir’s head and body and repeatedly prevented the accomplished wrestler from establishing control on the ground. Apodaca reportedly defended five of Mir’s six takedown attempts while remaining composed during the prospect’s submission attempts.
Mir had productive moments and appeared to land some of the heavier individual strikes, but Apodaca’s output and body attacks became increasingly effective as the fight progressed. Mir secured a late takedown and pursued a submission, but Apodaca survived before landing additional strikes from her back during the final seconds.
The decision improved Apodaca’s professional record to 4-1. The daughter of former UFC champion Frank Mir fell to 4-1 after suffering the first defeat of her MMA career.
UFC CEO Dana White admitted that he entered the evening personally invested in Mir’s success. White has advised Mir for approximately four years and encouraged her to attend college, strengthen her wrestling background and develop before pursuing a UFC career.
I didn’t struggle a little bit. I was extremely biased coming into tonight. I’ve been close to her for over four years. Four years ago, she came to me, and she wanted to sort of map out her future. I’m the one that talked her into going to college and waiting, get a wrestling background in college, do some great things there, and then come here. You guys all heard what her goals were over the next several years,” White said.
Following the fight, White credited commentator Michael Bisping with identifying the experience gap that ultimately decided the contest.
The difference in this fight is deep water. Bella’s never been there, and Alex has,” White said.
Apodaca had gone to the judges’ scorecards in each of her previous professional fights. Mir, by comparison, had completed the distance only once and had finished three opponents by submission. White said the defeat gave Mir experience that could prove valuable as her career continues.
She didn’t fold, she didn’t get stopped, she didn’t quit,” White said.
Mir’s loss prevented her from immediately joining the UFC roster, but White indicated that the 23-year-old remains young and driven enough to work her way back. Apodaca received the contract that had widely been expected to go to Mir, joining the other four winners from Tuesday’s event in earning a place in the UFC.
White later created a separate and uncomfortable moment during the post-fight press conference. A reporter asked whether Ronald Humphrey, who earned a UFC contract on Tuesday, could be matched against fellow welterweight Kaik Brito, who secured his deal one week earlier.
I have no idea,” White initially responded.
After the reporter thanked him, White unexpectedly continued.
There’s always got to be one horrible question. Congratulations, sir. It was you tonight,” White said.
White did not explain what made the proposed matchup objectionable. Although he has frequently declined to discuss matchmaking immediately after events, his decision to single out the reporter drew criticism online. The exchange was unrelated to Apodaca’s victory, but it added another unexpected moment to an evening already defined by the biggest upset in Contender Series history.
