| Tale of the Tape | Bella Mir | Alex Apodaca |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 4-0 | 3-1 |
| Age | 23 | 32 |
| Height | 5’7″ | 5’7″ |
| Reach | 67.0″ | 71.5″ |
| Hometown | Las Vegas, Nevada, US | Centennial, Colorado, US |
| Combined Opp. Record | 2-2 | 6-3 |
| Gym | Syndicate | Tiger Beetle MMA |
| Championships | n/a | n/a |
Cedric Dumas– First of all, real props to Alex Apodaca for taking this fight. She just competed in July and is now stepping in on short notice against arguably the most hyped women’s bantamweight prospect in recent memory. It would be easy to write her off, but Apodaca is a solid, well-rounded regional fighter who has earned her spot through consistency. She’s willing to take the opportunity, and that deserves respect. This is MMA, after all, and upsets happen.
As for Bella Mir, most people already know the name. The important part is that she brings much more than the Mir moniker. Her wrestling is excellent, her BJJ is sharp, and her overall skill set genuinely backs up the hype. I wouldn’t be surprised if she eventually settles at 125 pounds rather than 135, but for now, this fight is booked at bantamweight.
Apodaca is a respectable opponent, but Mir has too many advantages in too many areas. I expect her to close the distance, get the fight to the mat, and showcase the grappling that makes her such an exciting prospect.
Pick: Bella Mir via 1st round submission.
Nicholas Holt- There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said about Bella Mir. The expectations are through the roof, and everyone tapped into the MMA world will have their eyes on the 23-year-old superstar. Her potential is only beginning to be realized at the professional level; her ground game is already among the elite, and there truly is no telling how high Bella Mir could fly in the UFC.
I’m more than happy to board the hype train for Mir. Women’s bantamweight needs a future beyond Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes, and Bella Mir could be just that. It’s hard not to feel bad for her opponent, Alex Apodaca. She really isn’t a bad fighter at all, but maybe the UFC will give Apodaca another chance simply for being willing to step into the octagon with their newest super-prospect. After all, she’s doing them a favor.
Pick: Mir by Round 1 Submission
Chase Gurotsky- Bella Mir at only 23 has accomplished so much and is now trying to become a UFC fighter following in the foot steps of her legendary dad, its a amazing story. The UFC BJJ and Regional MMA star gets her big-time shot, and I do think she is ready. Despite a rough schedule, with a combined record of 2-2 in 4 fights, she has more than impressed. Her only decision win was in her debut, and since then she has gone on a 3-fight submission streak, with all 3 submissions being different. Since her last fight last year, she lost a bout in RAF and went 2-0 in UFC BJJ. She truly is a very talented grappler, and I hope that her striking has been getting worked on too.
Mir’s opponent is Alex Apodaca, who, despite losing her debut via split decision, has since won 3 in a row, all by decision. Her first three fights were at Peak Fighting, and recently she got her biggest win yet versus the then 3-1 Devon McDonald at Fury FC 122, which was less than a month ago. Apodaca is definitely the better all-around MMA fighter; however, I’m not sure she’s at the level to stop Mir. Apodaca’s decision wins haven’t been crazy or overwhelmingly impressive, and despite facing better opponents than Mir’s run, I feel Mir’s overwhelming ground game will be too much.
Pick: Mir 2nd Round Submission
Xavi Ryder– Just like Ronald Humphrey, Bella Mir is a 4-0 raw but talented fighter with a ridiculously high ceiling. As you likely already know or could’ve guessed, Bella is the daughter of former UFC interim heavyweight champion Frank Mir. She has a fantastic wrestling game and dangerous BJJ to back it up. Mir has competed four times in UFC BJJ and is undefeated with three submissions. Her striking continues to improve, but she’ll likely use it to set up her takedowns in this one.
Alex Apodaca will definitely be Mir’s best opponent, but I still don’t think she has a good shot here. She is a well-rounded fighter, but she doesn’t have a dangerous enough game anywhere to cause Mir any real problems. All Apodaca’s wins, even on the amateur level, have been decisions. Her only fight to not go to the scorecards was a submission loss as an amateur against Alivia Bierley, who probably should’ve been Mir’s opponent. Fair play to Apodaca for taking this opportunity, but she has the toughest outing she could’ve gotten in Bella Mir.
Pick: Mir via Round 1 Submission
Drew Beaupre– I’m not surprised that the UFC is already looking to add Mir to the roster after only four pro bouts, but I still probably would have preferred to see her fight a couple more times before joining the promotion. That being said, the women’s flyweight division could use an injection of new talent, and it’s hard not to be excited about Mir’s potential.
Apodaca technically has the edge in MMA experience thanks to her six-fight amateur career, but it’s hard to see an avenue to victory for her here. Mir’s wrestling ability has been on full display since making the jump to MMA, and what would be a fourth-straight win via submission feels likely here. The real question is going to be how quickly the UFC decides to bring the 23-year-old along, and what kind of matchups she’ll get during the early part of what should be a lengthy run with the promotion. (Pick: Mir)
Cangrejo Ruiz-This fight is a showcase for Mir as she is the one to watch for. At least she is getting a step up in competition in Apodaca, who is a tough girl, but she doesn’t really have a single threatening aspect in her game. I expect Mir to get the takedown and find the finish early. Prediction is Mir by R1 Submission
Benjamin Keith – Alex Apodaca is 3-1 and really shouldn’t be getting this opportunity, but props to her for accepting this fight on short notice and daring to be great. She is technically sound, uses her length well, and has a good gas tank. She is a much more natural athlete than most American WMMA prospects. The issue is that she hasn’t displayed any finishing ability in her pro or amateur career. She doesn’t have enough in her arsenal to make Bella Mir cautious, and when Mir can throw caution to the wind and just shoot for a double leg, good luck getting out of the first round.
Beyond being the daughter of the great Frank Mir, Bella Mir is an accomplished amateur wrestler and has trained Jiu Jitsu her entire life. One could argue she is the 2nd most dangerous female American ground technician behind world champion Kayla Harrison. She isn’t uncomfortable on the feet either, managing range well and sitting down on her punches. Mir still has a lot of growing to do as a mixed martial artist, but if she is eased along at the right pace, there’s no reason she can’t become an absolute star.
Prediction: Bella Mir by 1st-round submission.
