Dana White Acknowledges Bias Towards Bella Mir Before Loss

Dana White acknowledged his excessive favoritism towards Bella Mir before her surprising loss on the Contender Series held in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Mir, the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, was heavily favored at -4000 against Alex Apodaca but lost by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 in favor of Apodaca. As a result, Apodaca secured a UFC contract while Mir will need to reassess her strategy.

During the post-fight press conference, White reflected on his role in raising expectations for Mir, noting their close relationship over the past four years. He had previously described her as a unique talent with aspirations to excel in multiple combat sports. White suggested that this defeat might ultimately benefit Mir, highlighting her resilience during the match despite lacking experience in tough situations.