“I’ll Come Back Stronger”: Bella Mir Lands New Test at RAF 14
Bella Mir has her next challenge lined up, and it will take her back to the wrestling mat rather than the cage.
Bella Mir will face Hope Chase at Real American Freestyle 14 on Oct. 23 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, giving the NCAA champion her first competition since her Dana White’s Contender Series loss to Alex Apodaca. RAF officially lists the matchup for its upcoming Las Vegas event, with the bout set as a middleweight contest.
The booking comes after a busy year for Mir, who won the 145-pound NCAA women’s wrestling championship in March before trying her hand at MMA. She suffered her first professional MMA defeat against Apodaca on August 25, but the result did not change her plans to keep competing across combat sports.
Bella Mir Gets Another Chance to Compete on the Mat
The return gives Mir an immediate way back into competition after a difficult night in the cage.
Before the DWCS loss, she had already established herself as one of the strongest wrestlers in women's college competition. Mir went 15-1 during the 2025-26 season and won the NCAA title with a second-period pin of Reese Larramendy in the 145-pound final. She also captured the U.S. Open title in April and qualified for Final X.
Dana White said he spoke with Mir shortly after her loss to Apodaca. According to the UFC CEO, Mir was already looking forward.
“I know what it feels like to lose, and I’m good. I’ll be back, and I’ll come back stronger.”
RAF 14 now gives her the next opportunity to do exactly that.
MIR VS CHASE 👀
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) September 24, 2026
NCAA Champion Bella Mir will face Hope Chase at #RAF14 on OCT 23 from Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Tickets in bio. Watch on @foxnation pic.twitter.com/osWw8p7G22
Bella Mir Faces Hope Chase on Three-Fight Run
Chase brings some momentum of her own into the matchup.
The 27-year-old is 7-3 as a professional MMA fighter and has won her last three bouts. Her most recent victory came in August, when she submitted former UFC fighter Pannie Kianzad by first-round armbar at Fusion Fight League.
Chase has also competed for LFA and Invicta FC and will be making her RAF debut against Mir. That makes Oct. 23 more than a straightforward return for the former NCAA champion. There will be another fighter across the mat arriving with a run of her own.
Mir's next chapter starts back where she built her strongest credentials.
