Alex Apodaca Stuns Bella Mir in Biggest DWCS Upset Ever

Alex Apodaca pulled off the biggest upset in Dana White's Contender Series history, taking a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Bella Mir at Week 3 of DWCS Season 10 on Aug. 25 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

Apodaca (5-1) came in as roughly a -6000 underdog against Mir (4-1), the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, but he outstruck her and matched her in the wrestling exchanges over three rounds to get his hand raised. Dana White awarded Apodaca a UFC contract on the spot, one of five handed out on the card.

Why Bella Mir Was Such a Heavy Favorite

Bella Mir walked into the bantamweight main event as one of the most hyped prospects DWCS has featured this season, and White made clear afterward just how personally invested he was in her outcome. White said he had mentored Mir for years and had never before let bias creep into a fight he was watching, saying he had "never had any bias" in a decade of running the show until this one. He credited analyst Michael Bisping with correctly predicting the outcome, recalling that Bisping flagged Apodaca's experience edge, or what Bisping called the "deep waters" Apodaca had been through that Mir hadn't. That experience gap showed up on the feet, where Apodaca controlled the striking exchanges while also holding his own when the fight hit the mat.

The Rest of a Stacked Week 3

Apodaca's win headlined a card where every fighter who competed left with a UFC contract. Nick Galanti (8-1) opened the show by dropping Carlos Petruzzella (15-2) with a right hook and finishing him via ground-and-pound in just 35 seconds. Ronald Humphrey (5-0) submitted Alexis Miranda (9-3) with a first-round rear-naked choke after a dominant wrestling and striking performance, with White noting his own matchmaker Sean Shelby had struggled to even find Humphrey an opponent. Cage Warriors interim welterweight champion Sean Clancy Jr. (9-0) stopped Gary Balletto Jr. (11-4) in the second round, and Guilherme Uriel (8-2) tapped Mario Piazzon (12-2) with a guillotine choke in just 50 seconds.

Betting Angle

A -6000 favorite losing outright is about as extreme a result as the sport produces, the kind of number that implies well over 98% implied probability before the cage door even closes. It's a blunt reminder for bettors that Contender Series lines are built on far less tape and far more projection than a typical UFC main card, since prospects like Bella Mir often haven't been tested against opponents with real finishing instincts or veteran composure under pressure. Apodaca now enters the UFC with a signature win that should make him a live betting proposition rather than a name propped up purely by hype, while Mir's stock takes a hit heading into whatever comes next for her.

Apodaca's win instantly becomes the new benchmark for DWCS upsets and gives oddsmakers one more data point on just how unpredictable prospect-versus-prospect matchups can be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who beat Bella Mir on Dana White's Contender Series?

Alex Apodaca defeated Bella Mir by unanimous decision at DWCS Season 10 Week 3 on Aug. 25, 2026, in what was called the biggest upset in the show's history.

Did Alex Apodaca get a UFC contract?

Yes, Dana White awarded Alex Apodaca a UFC contract immediately after his win over Bella Mir.

How many fighters signed with the UFC after DWCS Week 3?

Five fighters, Alex Apodaca, Nick Galanti, Ronald Humphrey, Sean Clancy Jr., and Guilherme Uriel, all earned UFC contracts after their wins on DWCS Season 10 Week 3.