Final X is Saturday, June 19, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will be streamed LIVE on FloWrestling. Final X determines the 2026 U.S. Senior World teams in two Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle.
Below is a women’s freestyle preview of the 68-kilogram match between Kennedy Blades and Bella Mir.
Key Credentials
Kennedy Blades, 22
2026 NCAA champion (Iowa)
2025 World bronze medalist
2025 Pan-Am champion
2025 US Open champion
2025 NCWWC (NCAA) champion
2024 Olympic silver medalist
2023 U23 World silver medalist
2023 U20 World silver medalist
2021 Junior World champion
Bella Mir, 22
2026 NCAA champion (North Central)
2025 U20 World Team (8th)
2x NCWWC All-American (5th-2nd)
2025 U23 World Team (8th)
2023 U20 World Team (5th)
2023 Grand Prix of Spain champion
2x World No-Gi champion
4-0 MMA record
Match History
First meeting
How They Reached Final X
Blades reached Final X by winning a bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships.
Mir reached Final X by winning the 2026 U.S. Open. She defeated Greta Brus (Fall 2:05), Alissa Caltagirone (11-0), Zoey Lints (Fall 4:04), Latifah McBryde (12-7), and Jasmine Robinson (10-0).
What Should You Expect?
Of the nine women’s freestyle matchups, this might be the most compelling. On paper, Blades is the overwhelming favorite. She’s a 2024 Olympic silver medalist, with a 2025 World bronze and an automatic Final X berth. She dropped from 76 to 68 kg after the Olympics and has had no domestic peer at this weight.
And those throws! Blades is a human highlight reel, hitting belly-to-back suplays that break the internet. If you stand flat-footed, she can blast you off your feet faster than you can blink.
Mir moved up a weight after competing at 65 kg. She won this year’s 145-pound NCAA title, while Blades won at 160. The two will meet at 68 kg, approximately (150 pounds).
The North Central star is a fighter, and her on-the-mat style reflects her brawl-for-every-inch personality. Mir won’t be intimidated — even if she gets behind or gives up a big move.
There’s also a built-in college component. Blades is a two-time national champion for Iowa, while Mir was a Hawkeye for a season before transferring to North Central. Neither was on the team at the same time, so this could be a budding individual rivalry, given the strong college rivalry.
Except Mir to bring the fight, but Blades can capitalize if Mir gets out of position and pushes too hard. Blades has made a living out of it, and it’s why she’s one of the most popular wrestlers in the world, and it’s why Mir is a rising MMA star.
Watch highlights of Blades' 2026 NCAA Championship final
Watch highlights from Mir's 2026 NCAA Championship final