Bella Mir says the first defeat of her professional MMA career will become another learning experience rather than define her future.
The 23-year-old bantamweight issued a statement Wednesday after losing a unanimous decision to Alex Apodaca in the main event of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 3. All three judges scored Tuesday’s fight 29-28 for Apodaca.
Lady Mir, daughter of former UFC champion Frank Mir, entered the matchup as an overwhelming favorite, with odds reaching as high as -6000 at some sportsbooks. Apodaca nevertheless frustrated Mir’s highly regarded grappling game, defended five of six takedown attempts and produced the more effective striking across three rounds. The result dropped Mir’s professional record to 4-1 and earned Apodaca a UFC contract.
In her statement, Mir acknowledged that this setback attracted considerably more attention than previous losses she experienced in other forms of competition. She said each defeat has forced her to adopt a new mindset and become a better athlete.
I’ve lost so many times. Big or small, each loss carries me into a different mindset and learning experience to be a better athlete. I have overcome every single obstacle into my life and I will overcome this one. Now it’s just a bit different that this loss is more famous than my other ones [laughing emoji]. Thank you so much to everyone sending me love and encouragement. And I promise to all of you that it takes way more than hate and 1 single loss in my mma career to break me,” Mir wrote in the post below.
Bella continued and thanked White, who has been clear about his support for the 23-year-old, as well as her family, fans, and team. Mir also gave a nod to Apodaca, wrapping the post with a telling message on her future with UFC, and in the combat sports world in general. Mir closed her statement by promising that one highly publicized loss would not break her—and suggesting that her response will matter more than the setback itself.
I want to thank my team, my family, my fans and Dana for getting me here and further. I also want to thank Alex for taking this fight, all respect to her. Everytime I lose, I come back and win something bigger and better. No loss has ever defined me, and neither will this one. And how cool is it to do what I love on such a big platform. Literally living my dream!! Next Best Thing,” Mir wrote.
The loss interrupted a promising start to Mir’s MMA career. She had won her first four professional fights, including three consecutive opening-round submissions, before facing Apodaca.
Mir has also established herself as an elite wrestler. In March, she captured the inaugural NCAA National Collegiate women’s championship at 145 pounds while representing North Central College, pinning Iowa’s Reese Larramendy in the final. The achievement is sometimes incorrectly described as a Division I title, but the National Collegiate tournament combined competitors from multiple NCAA divisions.
Mir’s immediate fighting plans have not been announced. Although the defeat prevented her from joining Apodaca on the UFC roster, White characterized the experience as an important test for a young prospect who had never previously been forced into “deep water.”
