Bella Mir is wrestling at North Central College while eyeing a future in the UFC, where her father Frank Mir won heavyweight titles in 2004 and 2006. The 22-year-old recently dominated a match with a 10-0 technical fall, showcasing skills that have UFC president Dana White calling her 'the next big thing.' White signed Mir as the UFC's first name, image and likeness ambassador in 2023.

Mir's path to professional fighting has been carefully orchestrated by White, who convinced her to pursue collegiate wrestling rather than rush into MMA. Despite being only 4-0 as a professional fighter, she's already a two-time world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and ranked No. 2 in collegiate wrestling at 145 pounds. Her father's UFC legacy looms large - she wrapped his belt around herself as a 5-year-old after his second title win.

White first met Mir when she was 18 and initially underwhelmed by her size, but quickly recognized her potential. The UFC president now meets with her twice yearly to discuss her progress, consistently affirming she's 'the next superstar.' Mir admits feeling impatient, often thinking 'I could be champ right now,' but follows White's guidance to develop her skills before making the leap to professional fighting.