The general public dialogue is Bella Mir, Bella Mir, Bella Mir. However Alex Apodaca is OK with that – for now.
Apodaca (3-1) steps right into a slot the place a lot of the general public discourse revolves utterly round her Dana White's Contender Sequence opponent, however that's motivating to her. She's out to indicate the world she's not a token "different fighter." It excites her. It scares her. She's feeling all the sentiments heading into Tuesday's battle at Meta APEX.
"It's enjoyable, like, 'OK, let's go do that factor.' It's thrilling, and it's scary, and it's all of the enjoyable issues that preventing is," Apodaca not too long ago instructed MMA Junkie. "I believe preventing anyone is a menace. You simply by no means know. The cage is essentially the most loopy place. Actually, something can occur. That being mentioned, her degree of hype – that's enjoyable and wild, and it provides me motivation to do nicely. As a result of I simply get to go be predominant occasion at Contender Sequence? Informal. Everybody is aware of about Bella Mir. That's cool. I prefer it. It's like, let's rise to some events right here."
Apodaca, 32, knew what she was signing up for. Actually, she raised her hand to combat Mir (4-0), the standout wrestler and daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, when she caught wind of an opponent being wanted.
"It's humorous as a result of truly I had simply fought in Texas (on July 24)," Apodaca mentioned. "I used to be preventing for Fury. Going into the combat, I had recognized of some women presumably being provided Contender. I wasn't positive if I used to be on the road for it in any respect, however I knew successful the combat was an enormous deal. So I received the combat, and I'm actually strolling down the steps, and Eric (Garcia), the promoter, is like, 'Come right here, Alex. Would you like me to place your identify within the operating for Contender? It's Bella Mir.' I used to be like, 'Yeah, let's do it.' That's after I obtained the information. It was like instantly after I had received my final combat, which was three weeks (in the past)."
"… I knew the problem of it. I knew what I used to be up towards. It was all proper there. It was instantly after preventing. It was not like I had time to get fats or off form or actually something. I knew I used to be going to be in there quickly, so I simply stayed locked in as a lot as I may. In fact, I had some enjoyable in New Orleans that evening, however I simply needed to leap again in."
Initially from Austin, Texas, Apodaca's ardour for fight sports activities stems from her father's love for MMA and the UFC. However it was bolstered by an opportunity encounter. Working as a door-to-door salesperson, Apodaca stumbled throughout the UFC Fitness center, and whereas making her pitch to the on-shift supervisor, a Ronda Rousey promotional advert on one of many TVs caught her eye.
Quick ahead and Apodaca has relocated to Denver. Her complete life has revolved across the pursuit of UFC notoriety. She lives by herself, working a 9-5 desk job as a advisor, bookending coaching periods at Tiger Beetle Martial Arts on both aspect, as she manages a double skilled life. Tuesday marks the second she's been ready for.
"I've managed an insane schedule, that I don't assume most individuals would be capable of do, for like eight years now," Apodaca mentioned. "Along with fulfilling a dream, I additionally assume I'd perhaps be capable of relieve some stress in a method – some day-to-day stress. It might change my life. On high of it, I reside over right here in Colorado on my own. My complete household lives in Texas. There's simply been a number of sacrifices. There are a number of issues I haven't gotten to be residence for. I like my household dearly, and I'm very shut with them, and I simply really feel prefer it'd imply a lot to see this via due to all of the issues which have sacrificed."
Some sports activities books have her listed as a nine-to-one underdog. Others have her listed as 12-to-one. Apodaca is aware of the eye Mir is getting, however she's prepared to indicate everybody she's a fighter price hyping, too. To her, the end result is within the MMA gods' fingers. She's simply able to go on the market and have some enjoyable.
"I believe that anyone has the grappling accolades that she did is certainly a menace there," Apodaca mentioned. "I've mentioned it earlier than. I don't need to underestimate any piece of her recreation. On the finish of the day, perhaps one thing that’s being missed is that that is combined martial arts. Any hanging, any of that, that goes. I don't assume that she has that rather more expertise in that state of affairs than I do. I believe her grappling is certainly a menace, similar to my hanging is a menace. I believe that can be a great combat. I believe people are perhaps overlooking that truth somewhat bit. This isn't only a wrestling match or UFC BJJ."
"… I've seen a thousand other ways in my head. With out giving any concepts away. I simply assume on the finish of the day, we now have to provide it to the combat gods somewhat bit. There's no black-and-white. It's a combat. Actually, something may occur."
This text initially appeared on MMA Junkie: ;