Bella Mir says she is under UFC contract, aims for January Tuff-N-Uff fight

Bella Mir has a say in where her career goes, but not the final word. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, the 23-year-old bantamweight said being under UFC contract means she cannot decide her next steps alone. "Oh no, they're my bosses pretty much," Mir said. She described the promotion's guidance as keeping her on track rather than acting like controlling parents.

The arrangement reframes her August Contender Series appearance, which ended in her first professional loss and what Bloody Elbow called the biggest upset in the show's history. The UFC's closeness to Mir was already no secret, with Dana White having admitted to being biased about her.

Her plan now is activity. Mir said she has spoken to the UFC about fighting on Tuff-N-Uff in Las Vegas because it is easy for the promotion's bosses to attend. Four or five fights before the next Contender Series season would at least double her pro fight count, and she believes she can manage that schedule with smart training.