Dec. 10, 2025, 8:30 p.m. ET
LAS VEGAS – Bella Mir pertains to Bronny James.
One is a feminine fighter. The opposite is a male basketball participant. However they’re each Zoomers with Corridor of Fame-worthy skilled athlete dad and mom – and as Mir defined throughout a information convention Wednesday, it is not at all times straightforward.
“Clearly there are such a lot of dad and mom on the market who’re skilled athletes and have children,” informed reporters together with MMA Junkie forward of her UFC BJJ 4 match Thursday on the UFC Apex. “There’s at all times that query like, ‘Oh, are they going to comply with of their dad and mom’ footsteps?’ Now, I am simply proving to myself that I could be on this stage. So I believe that is what makes me distinction than these different athletes who’re the son or daughter of their skilled dad or mum that was NBA or NFL. So I believe that is what makes me on a distinct stage from different individuals. All the time the large discuss is LeBron (James) and his son (Bronny). His son is at all times having to show himself and I believe that is what I am form of doing proper now. I believe that is what I am doing proper now. I am reminding people who I am presupposed to be right here.”
In contrast to James, who at present performs together with his father, LeBron James, on the Los Angeles Lakers, Mir has but to hit the large league of the UFC, the place her father turned one of the vital notable heavyweight champions ever. She’s taking it step-by-step, rounding out her recreation by competing in jiu-jitsu, MMA, and naturally, wrestling, which is her base.
“I believe it is no matter Dad says,” Mir mentioned, as to when she could take the subsequent step up in MMA. “If Dad says this subsequent one over the summer time, ‘Let’s do yet one more,’ then we’ll do Contenders or regardless of the step is. Clearly, the UFC can be the subsequent step. I believe it is no matter he thinks. I am at all times simply listening to what he has to say.”
Mir represents a uncommon breed of feminine collegiate wrestlers to check their fingers at MMA. Mir thinks there can be extra wrestlers coming over to MMA, if there wasn’t a lot worry.
“I undoubtedly assume watching Petr Yan and Merab simply combat, and the way bloody that obtained, I believe individuals are petrified of that side of MMA,” Mir mentioned. “Now, they’re seeing different choices the place they might go to RAF and make cash there, or go to jiu-jitsu and make cash right here. Jiu-jitsu is rising insanely. So individuals are simply surviving on jiu-jitsu. I believe in the case of the boys, I believe this subsequent era goes to need to go into MMA. For the women, it is like bizarre about getting punched within the face. They’re like, ‘No, my nails.’ So I do not know. I would hope so. I am at all times attempting to get my teammates to return practice with me. However they’re scared. Possibly the subsequent era they may.”
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