Bella Mir Confirms Olympic Plans With White's Blessing

Bella Mir has no intention of choosing between the UFC and the Olympics.

The 23-year-old wrestling champion told MMA Fighting she will pursue a UFC contract and a 2028 Olympic gold medal at the same time, with Dana White's full support. Mir fights Tuesday on Contender Series, then faces 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades in September for a spot at this year's World Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan.

White Backs Mir's Multi-Sport Chase

Mir said she raised the Olympic question with White before signing on for Contender Series. "I asked him, too, I want to try to shoot for 2028. Is that going to be an issue?" she told MMA Fighting. "He's like 'no, I think it's so sick that you're trying to do it all.'" White recently revealed that Mir plans to capture titles in UFC, UFC BJJ, Zuffa Boxing, and Olympic wrestling. Mir did not flinch at the list. "I don't want to just go for world titles. I want to go for a legacy. I want to be legendary," she said.

No fighter has competed in the UFC while actively chasing Olympic gold. Henry Cejudo won in 2008 but turned to MMA only after missing the 2012 team. Bo Nickal left wrestling behind after failing to make the 2020 squad. Gable Steveson has mentioned 2028 but remains deep in his UFC run. Mir is breaking the pattern.

She accelerated her MMA timeline because opponents kept declining fights. "There was a year where I couldn't even fight anyone because everyone said no. I went through like 20 people," she said. White offered Contender Series, and Mir took it. She won the NCAA 145-pound title in her final college season at North Central, became the first college athlete signed to a UFC NIL deal, and now wants a UFC contract by year's end. "I want to stay busy," she said. "I really do want to have my first fight in the UFC the end of this year."

Mir also plans to get married in 2027. She trains four sessions a day when schedules allow and takes only short breaks before major competitions. "If I could train all day long, that's what I'm doing," she said. The Contender Series main event airs Tuesday.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Bella Mir confirms plans to conquer multiple sports with Dana White’s full support: ‘I want to be legendary’