When seen from the safe, comfortable vantage point of the living room sofa, it all seems so simple. Frank Mir was a UFC heavyweight champion with a long, decorated career in fight sports. His daughter Bella, being of his genetic lineage, also seemed to have some natural aptitude for the mixing of the martial arts, so it was only a matter of time until we saw her on the way to the UFC.
So when some people see her fighting on this Tuesday's edition of Dana White's Contender Series, they might think nothing of it. Pure logical progression, right? You'd think so, at least, if you've never spoken to a professional fighter about this very issue.
Many years ago I was having drinks with what you might call a mid-level UFC fighter whose wife had recently given birth to their first child. I offered my congratulations, like you do, and then without thinking much about it made an offhand remark about how maybe one day I'd cover one of his son's UFC fights the same way I'd covered the father's.
What I remember now is the look he gave me before he told me, in a tone of voice that said there was to be no joking on this subject, "That's honestly my worst nightmare."
Since I learn nothing, a couple years later I made the same mistake with former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones. Standing around the gym in Albuquerque, making conversation, I asked which of his daughters had the best chance of becoming a champion fighter some day.

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