Bella Mir, the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, has joined the world’s largest fight promotion as its first-ever NIL ambassador, officials told ESPN on Friday.
“I’m super grateful and I honestly couldn’t be more thankful to [UFC president] Dana [White] and UFC for giving me this opportunity,” Bella Mir said in a statement. “I’m going to make sure I do my best to represent UFC and show the world what I’m all about.”
Bella Mir has won numerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions in addition to being a four-time Nevada state high school wrestling champion where she was ranked sixth nationally among high school wrestlers. Her most recent MMA victory came in June under the Xtreme Fight Night banner when she armbarred Jessica Link in the opening round.
Although NIL contracts do not guarantee that an athlete will compete for the UFC, Bella Mir’s pedigree makes it seem likely that she will do so in the future.
It’s uncertain whether the UFC will offer NIL contracts to any more college athletes. WWE, on the other hand, has a significant NIL program with more than 30 athletes signed over the previous two years. The first WWE NIL signee in September 2021 was Olympic gold medalist in wrestling Gable Steveson, who also attracted interest from the UFC.
“Bella was destined to become a member of the UFC family her entire life, and I’m proud that she’s making history as our first NIL ambassador in one of the best programs at the University of Iowa,” White said in a statement.
“… Bella is an incredible role model for young women who are not only looking to get into sports, but also pursue their dreams. She’s on another level, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.”
The NCAA began allowing NIL deals in July 2021, giving college athletes the opportunity to earn money through endorsements, social media posts, and public appearances. The NCAA had previously forbidden all of those things.
Frank Mir, a pioneer of mixed martial arts, first captured the UFC heavyweight championship in 2004. He also defeated Brock Lesnar and served as interim heavyweight champion in 2008. 2019 saw his final UFC fight.
Not the first MMA entity to venture into the NIL space
In 2021, one of the most notorious MMA gyms in the nation took advantage of NIL legislation. For the 2021 season, each scholarship player on the Miami football team (a total of 90) was offered a $500 monthly payment by American Top Team owner and ardent Miami football fan Dan Lambert in exchange for promoting his gyms on social media. More than two dozen professional fighters, including Jorge Masvidal and Amanda Nunes, call American Top Team their home gym.
Since new state laws and NCAA rules opened the doors for players to make money, Lambert’s offer to the Hurricanes, which could total up to $540,000 this year, was the highest reported amount for a college sports endorsement deal at the time.
Over a year later, the UFC has officially followed suit.
Mir, a 20-year-old freshman, currently wrestles for the University of Iowa. She has a perfect 3-0 record in competitive MMA.