Dana White’s Contender Series: Bella Mir vs Alex Apodaca Preview & Prediction
by Gabriel Sheehan ·
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Frank Mir's daughter, Bella Mir, looks to follow in her father's legendary footsteps by earning a contract against Alex Apodaca.
Bella Mir vs Alex Apodaca facts
What time are Bella Mir and Alex Apodaca expected to walk out?
Where is DWCS – Season 10, Week 3 taking place? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
What TV channel is DWCS – Season 10, Week 3 on? UK – Not televised / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream DWCS – Season 10, Week 3? UK – UFC Fight Pass / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
DWCS – Season 10, Week 3 card
Bella Mir vs Alex Apodaca (Women's Bantamweight)
Sean Clancy Jr. vs Gary Balletto Jr. (Welterweight)
Alexis Miranda vs Ronald Humphrey (Middleweight)
Guilherme Uriel vs Mario Piazzon (Heavyweight)
Carlos Petruzzella vs Nick Galanti (Middleweight)
Bella Mir: "Lady" arrives with a reputation as a super prospect
Daughter of UFC legend and former heavyweight champion, Frank Mir, Bella Mir (4-0) touches down on the Contender Series with considerably big shoes to fill. To say that the 23 year old super-prospect seems undaunted would be a bit of an understatement; “Lady” is undefeated with three first round submission finishes to her name. Much like her father, Mir is a superb grappler with a ferocious submission game. She’s fought in the UFC’s BJJ division and has also appeared on RAF. The only knock against her is her strength of schedule; Mir has only beaten an opponent with a winning record once in MMA.
Alex Apodaca: Can Apodaca shock the world as an enormous underdog?
Undefeated since a split decision loss in her pro debut, Alex Apodaca (3-1) looks to earn a UFC contract and build a name off her latest opponent’s reputation. Apodaca seems to primarily be a striker, but she’s also showed some decent grappling in her first four pro fights. She’s fought most of her career in Peak Fighting, although her last appearance came under the Fury FC banner. The American has looked solid on the regional circuit but her lack of finishing power raises some concerns; Apodaca has yet to earn a single victory by stoppage across ten fights as an amateur and a pro.
Bella Mir vs Alex Apodaca prediction
Apodaca isn’t categorically dead in the water here. She’s had success through leaning on feints and stance switches to win a volume striking battle. However, she will occasionally engage in the grappling and likes to drive her opponents into the cage and wear on them in the clinch.
Unfortunately, that’s an area of the fight that she needs to steer completely clear of against Mir. “Lady” has yet to face a decent opponent in her young MMA career, but she’s clearly a superb grappler, snatching up submissions with the polished ease of a lifelong athlete. Her striking is still developing, but it’s been good enough to allow her to close distance and work her phenomenal wrestling and BJJ to date.
Apodaca just doesn’t look to having the stopping power to deter Mir from coming forward and shooting takedowns, let alone put her away outright. I think Mir is going to feint, drive forward for a takedown and that’s going to be all she wrote from there. Considering the insane modified kimura she produced in her last fight, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her score some form of rare, highlight reel submission to punch her UFC ticket.
Prediction: Bella Mir to win by first round submission
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