Alex Apodaca pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Contender Series history, outpointing Bella Mir, daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, to earn a UFC contract.

But despite the career-altering win, Apodaca has no plans to leave her full-time consulting job at an audit firm behind.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Apodaca explained that the stability and flexibility her employer offers is too valuable to give up:

I want to have, like, a 401k and good insurance and like that kind of thing.

Apodaca said her firm has set her up with what she calls an “alternative work arrangement”:

They’ve really provided me a lot of flexibility.

I have this thing called an alternative work arrangement and like for 2 hours of the day I get to just go leave and train.
And that’s so cool.

Like, I don’t really know any other companies that would do that and it’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed for so long.
It’s because they’ve been so flexible.

The 32-year-old, who has spent roughly a decade in audit and consulting, said her boss even texted her after her post-fight press conference in Las Vegas telling her to skip her scheduled call the next morning, though she was back at work just days later:

My boss texted me after the press conference. He was, like, don’t join the 7:30 call.

Apodaca acknowledged that some adjustment may eventually be necessary as her fighting schedule ramps up:

I think I might have to make the decision or change how I do it, right?
Like, maybe it’s not a full-time position anymore or maybe you know the hours are more flexible.

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