Bella Mir releases statement following disappointing Contender Series loss

Bella Mir is ready to move on from the first setback of her MMA journey.

The 23-year-old bantamweight prospect—and daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir—suffered a disappointing loss Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series, where she dropped a decision to Alex Apodaca. Mir was an astronomical favorite according to oddsmakers, but was unable to impose her highly vaunted grappling game against Apodaca, who out-struck Mir over three rounds.

On Wednesday, Mir released a statement via Instagram addressing the loss.

“I’ve lost so many times,” Mir wrote. “Big or small, each loss carries me into a different mindset and learning experience to be a better athlete. I have overcome every single obstacle into my life and I will overcome this one. Now it’s just a bit different that this loss is more famous than all my other losses.

“Thank you so much to everyone sending me love and encouragement. And I promise to all of you that it takes way more than hate and one single loss in my MMA career to break me.”

Mir also credited Apodaca for the win, writing, “all respect to her.”

Heading into Tuesday’s DWCS episode, Mir was 4-0 in MMA, with her past three wins coming by way of first-round submission. Mir also added a major title to her trophy case this past March, capturing an NCAA Division-I wrestling championship at 145 pounds.

With the win, Apodaca earned a UFC contract, while it’s back the drawing board for Mir, who doesn’t sound the least bit discouraged by her first MMA loss.

See Mir’s unedited statement below.

I’ve lost so many times. Big or small, each loss carries me into a different mindset and learning experience to be a better athlete. I have overcome every single obstacle into my life and I will overcome this one. Now it’s just a bit different that this loss is more famous than all my other losses. Thank you so much to everyone sending me love and encouragement. And I promise to all of you that it takes way more than hate and 1 single loss in my mma career to break me.

I want to thank my team, my family, my fans and Dana for getting me here and further. I also want to thank Alex for taking this fight, all respect to her.

Everytime I lose, I come back and win something bigger and better. No loss has ever defined me, and neither will this one. And how cool is it to do what I love on such a big platform. Literally living my dream!!

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