Bella Mir, the undefeated daughter of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir, will face Alex Apodaca in the main event of Dana White’s Contender Series on August 25 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The women’s bantamweight bout headlines Week 3 of Season 10, with Mir attempting to earn a place on the UFC roster.
Dana White’s interest in Mir’s fighting career began well before she was booked for the biggest MMA opportunity of her young career. Speaking to reporters following the opening week of his 2026 Contender Series, White said Mir’s appearance represents another step in a development process he says he has followed closely for four years.
I’m very excited about Bella. I’ve been very involved in her life the last four years,” Dana White said. [H/T to Sherdog]
Part of that involvement included encouraging Mir to attend college rather than immediately pursue fighting full-time after high school. White said the objective was not limited to earning an education; he also wanted her to break college records.
That decision paid off in March, when Mir won the 145-pound title at the inaugural NCAA women’s wrestling championships, wrestling for North Central College. White said she also entered and won Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions over that stretch despite training only wrestling at the time.
So, she’s special,” White said.
Mir’s relationship with the promotion was formalized in 2023, when she became the first athlete to sign an NIL ambassador agreement with the UFC.
Her long-term plans are considerably more ambitious than simply reaching the Octagon. Mir has discussed pursuing a place at the 2028 Olympic Games while simultaneously building careers in multiple combat sports. According to White, she has presented him with a goal of eventually winning championships in the UFC, UFC BJJ and Zuffa Boxing in addition to reaching the Olympics.
The immediate assignment is Apodaca.
Mir, 23, has compiled a 4-0 professional MMA record. Her debut ended in a decision victory, but each of her subsequent fights has concluded with a first-round submission.
Her most recent MMA appearance came more than a year ago, when she submitted Stephanie Calderon under the Fury FC banner. Mir has remained active in grappling during the layoff, including a submission victory at UFC BJJ 9, but August 25 will be her first opportunity to demonstrate how that continued development translates back to MMA.
Apodaca enters with a 3-1 record and three consecutive victories. Her latest came against Devon McDonald at Fury FC 122 on July 24. All three of Apodaca’s professional wins have gone to the judges, giving her considerably more experience in fights that extend through the scheduled distance.
That presents Mir with a different type of test. She can either maintain the finishing streak that has defined the early portion of her career or prove she can consistently win rounds against an opponent who has repeatedly gone the distance.
Headlining the card will place Mir directly in front of White and the UFC’s matchmakers, but victory alone does not guarantee a standard UFC contract. Contender Series deals remain discretionary. Few fighters reach the program carrying such a public endorsement from the UFC CEO, and Mir will now have to justify that confidence when the cage door closes.
