Bellamir has always followed her father’s footsteps, but when it comes to being Frank Meal’s daughter, she actually carries new responsibilities in her combat sports career.
The 22-year-old prospect, a decorated wrestler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylist, is preparing for her fourth MMA fight on Sunday with plans to compete in the UFC in the future day. She’s definitely paving her own path, but Mir really began to embrace the role of representing the next generation after her father was one of the biggest heavyweights in UFC history.
“Many people, especially like my father, who have truly great parents, want to create their own legacy,” explained Mir as he spoke to the MMA fight. “But I love being a part of him (legacy) and I also love that he will become a part of me in the future once he becomes one of the best MMA coaches in the world. I definitely believe in that.
“It’s so cool, like sometimes they want to make a movie or something. You don’t see it happening in real life. Your dad is a two-time UFC heavyweight champion and you win all this and take that spot from him. I think it’s so cool.
Mir has high goals when it comes to his career. Her dad continues to be a great source of inspiration and knowledge as a fighter jet as he continues to learn, adapt and grow. In fact, she says that her father repeatedly told her that it meant his legacy as much as the title belt and championship he claimed in his career.
It means something big for Mir, but she accepts the expectations that come with having such a famous surname, and her biggest wish is to be proud of her father.
“I’m definitely starting to realize. I like being a part of his (heritage) rather than making my own,” Mir said. “I feel that making my own was a way to escape his shadow, but now it seems like (he) is raising me, and it’s cool to be part of it.”
Of course, Mir is part of an exclusive club for athletes that comes from championship pedigree, but it has been recently that sons and daughters of past greats have begun to make their own waves due to their younger age as a sport.
Mir followed her father’s fight, but Mia Lesnar, daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, became Colorado’s top track star and recently became the national champion in Shotput.
As Frank Meer and Brock Lesnar split a pair of fights throughout their respective UFC careers, Bella admits that she is asked quite often about Mya Lesnar, and she definitely understands the interest. Mir defeated Lesnar in his UFC debut, and Lesnar paid Mir in a TKO victory in his rematch at the UFC 100.
The heavyweights didn’t get the chance to meet again to solve the trilogy.
For that reason alone, Vera hopes for an opportunity to create perhaps one of the most viral battles in history by resolving rivalries that didn’t end up in the UFC in real-life face of Cage Mya Lesnar.
“It’s funny to say about Mya Lesnar about the number of people who asked me if I wanted to fight her and do the Brock Lesnar Frank Meer Trilogy or do the daughter shape,” Mir said. “I know Dana (white) will approve 100% of Mia if she’s fighting. So if you’re Mia Lesnar, if you’ve heard of this, you should train and we can have a bit of a fight.
“I’m like Mia, I’m just training for a year. She’s athletic. She’s going to take it down. Does she train for a year? That’s insane. Let’s be honest.”
Mya Lesnar is an athletic freak in itself, but after becoming an NCAA champion in wrestling before winning the UFC heavyweight title, he never spoke publicly about competing in the sport that made his father famous.
That said, Mir cannot ignore the incredible opportunities that they may be able to use, especially in history among their fathers.
“It’s actually crazy,” Mir said. “Maybe universe, it knew her, so I was about to finish that trilogy fight, so they didn’t let our father finish it. That’s great. I think it’s more hyped than anyone else is more honest about it.”
Regardless of that potential fight, Mir knows that no matter who faces, she has more eyes on her performance than the average athlete, but that’s the reality she’s been living from the day she decided to do an MMA.
The UFC is always looking for potential superstars, so Mir definitely suits that mold, but she hasn’t left the spotlight. Instead, she accepts the opportunity and appreciates the fact that people are already talking about her and the possibility that she has to influence the sport.
“I feel like I’m around my dad and dealing with who he is and the pressure he is forever. I never feel pressured. I’m just living in the moment and I absolutely love what I do,” Mir said. “My dad is very good when it comes to thinking and mentality. We always have conversations, so he always tells us about what he told us about, ‘You’re not in my shadow, you’re my legacy’. You are dealing with those demons before the battle.
“I definitely feel like I’m going to enter the UFC, and when that day comes, I don’t feel any pressure, but I’m grateful to those who want to take the place away.