UFC's Contender Series has now delivered one of the greatest upsets in MMA history — at least in terms of the odds.
In the show's Season 10, Week 4 main event on Tuesday, -6000 betting favorite Bella Mir — the much-ballyhooed daughter of UFC legend Frank Mir — suffered the shocking first loss of her professional MMA career to +1500 underdog Alex Apodaca via a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). With the win, Apodaca earned herself a UFC contract.
Mir, 23, has long been considered a blue-chip combat sports prospect under the tutelage of her former UFC heavyweight champion father. UFC CEO Dana White, who's known Bella since she was a child, spoke openly in the lead-up to Tuesday's Contender Series fight about the possibility of the young phenom competing at the 2028 Olympics while pursue **** les in multiple TKO properties: The UFC, UFC BJJ and Zuffa Boxing.
"Alex, what you had to face tonight [was different]," White said following the result. "Now, I'm very proud of myself that in 10 years of doing [Contender Series], I have never had any bias. I don't know anything about anybody coming in. I was overly biased on this fight. I've known Bella for a long time, four years ago we started mapping out her plan and who she was going to be, and you came in tonight [and changed all of that].
"Unbelievable upset. Congratulations, you're in the UFC."
#alex #white #long #tonight
In the show's Season 10, Week 4 main event on Tuesday, -6000 betting favorite Bella Mir — the much-ballyhooed daughter of UFC legend Frank Mir — suffered the shocking first loss of her professional MMA career to +1500 underdog Alex Apodaca via a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). With the win, Apodaca earned herself a UFC contract.
Mir, 23, has long been considered a blue-chip combat sports prospect under the tutelage of her former UFC heavyweight champion father. UFC CEO Dana White, who's known Bella since she was a child, spoke openly in the lead-up to Tuesday's Contender Series fight about the possibility of the young phenom competing at the 2028 Olympics while pursue **** les in multiple TKO properties: The UFC, UFC BJJ and Zuffa Boxing.
"Alex, what you had to face tonight [was different]," White said following the result. "Now, I'm very proud of myself that in 10 years of doing [Contender Series], I have never had any bias. I don't know anything about anybody coming in. I was overly biased on this fight. I've known Bella for a long time, four years ago we started mapping out her plan and who she was going to be, and you came in tonight [and changed all of that].
"Unbelievable upset. Congratulations, you're in the UFC."
#alex #white #long #tonight
1 day ago
