Holy smokes, did you see the Contender Series last week? Alex Apodaca just pulled off one of the biggest betting upsets in MMA history, taking down Bella Mir in the bantamweight headliner. Mir, daughter of UFC legend Frank Mir, went into that Week 4 fight on August 25th as a colossal -6000 betting favorite. That’s not just a favorite, that’s a *given* for most people! Apodaca was sitting at a +1500 moneyline as the underdog, then straight-up spoiled the party, stealing a UFC contract from the 23-year-old Mir via unanimous decision. You just don’t see upsets like that happen.
Apodaca Felt the Win Was Undervalued, and She’s Not Wrong
After Mir’s unexpected loss, she caught a ton of online heat and criticism from fans and even other fighters. But here’s the kicker: Apodaca, who improved her record to 4-1 with the win, felt all that backlash against Mir actually undervalued *her* efforts more than anything. She jumped on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Tuesday and put it perfectly. “She is a good fighter, and when you’re saying that kind of thing, it’s like, well, that means that I’m not. Or maybe I just did a good job,” Apodaca told Uncrowned. “If you’re not giving her credit, you’re not giving me credit.” Seriously, the woman earned that contract. She went in as a massive underdog and executed a game plan to win. That’s a huge W.
Mir’s Last Name Means “A Target on My Back” Always
Mir (4-1) also appeared on Helwani’s show, speaking right after Apodaca. Reflecting on her first career loss, Mir insisted she’s already moved on and has a clear idea of what she needs to work on moving forward. She admitted feeling the pressure of expectations before the fight, but she doesn’t think that was the reason she lost. She felt “confident” and good in her training, even with some adjustments. The weight cut to 135 pounds is still a work in progress for her, but she didn’t think anything went wrong leading up to the fight. She just “didn’t have a good night.”
The pressure and backlash didn’t surprise her, though. Mir said, “Since the day I can remember, I’ve always had a target on my back because of my last name.” She’s been the “most hated wrestler” in collegiate tournaments, constantly dealing with people doubting her and saying she can’t balance all three combat sports she’s involved in. She even recalled the NCAA Finals, where she heard more boos than cheers. “I feel like it’s pretty known that I’m not really liked in every sport I compete in,” she said. Mir insists she thrives in pressure situations and the post-fight hate didn’t affect her because she’s never been the one cheered for anyway.
So, what’s next for Bella Mir? She’s assessed her performance and is ready to adjust. For someone who’s “always had a target on my back,” this first professional loss is a massive test. How she bounces back from this historic upset and the criticism is going to tell us everything about her future. Keep an eye on her next move, because this comeback story is just starting to be written.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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