Miranda Maverick
Miranda Rachelle Maverick (born July 1, 1997) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She competed in Flyweight division of the Invicta Fighting Championships (Invicta). Background. Maverick was born in Tunas, Missouri, United States. She grew up working on her family farm moving around many states in the Midwest and Southern United States, earning her the strength that she is known for within the martial arts community. She started grappling when she was sixteen after encouragement by her father while watching Ronda Rousey fight on the television . She also joined her high school wrestling team in Buffalo, Missouri her senior year and competed on the men's varsity team until discovering that she would not be going to college for wrestling. She then stopped to focus on wrestling, instead turning her sights on MMA soon after she graduated high school at 18. Despite concentrating in mixed martial arts, Maverick graduated with honors from Drury University, majoring in psychology and sociology in 2018. Maverick then relocated to Norfolk, VA to pursue a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Old Dominion University. Mixed martial arts career. Early career. Maverick  started her amateur career in 2015, fighting under Kansas City Fighting Alliance, ShoFight, and The Blue Corner promotions. She amassed a record of 7–1, winning the Blue Corner and Shofight flyweight championships all while 18 years old, being listed as the number one amateur woman in her region on Tapology at the time she went pro. After her final amateur win, she was soon contacted by President Shannon Knapp of Invicta Fighting Championships. Invicta Fighting Championships. Maverick made her promotional debut on November 18, 2016 at against Samantha Diaz. Samantha Diaz cut off her hair the day of weight-ins  to make weight and Maverick came in over 2 pounds above the strawweight limit. Maverick won the fight via rear naked choke in round one. Her next pro fight was on March 25, 2017 at facing Kalyn Schwartz. On the weight-in Maverick missed weight by 4.5 Ibs over the upper limit of 116 Ibs. She won the fight via submission on round one. On July 15, 2017, Maverick faced Gabby Romero at . She won the fight via unanimous decision. Her next fight came on July 21, 2018, facing Brogan Walker-Sanchez at . She won the fight via unanimous decision . she lost the fight via unanimous decision. Maverick faced Victoria Leonardo on September 1, 2018 at . She defeated Leonardo via a submission. At Invicta 34 in February 2019, Maverick lost a unanimous decision to DeAnna Bennett. In September, Maverick entered the Invicta Phoenix Series flyweight tournament with a chance to reestablish herself in the flyweight division. In the first round of the tournament, consisting of one 5-minute round, she defeated Victoria Leonardo via striking and clinch in a rematch via unanimous decision. Her second round match (also one 5-minute round) ended with Maverick submitting Shanna Young via rear  naked choke. Maverick won the tournament by defeating DeAnna Bennett in a rematch by third round neck crank submission in the finals. Maverick defeated Pearl Gonzalez at on February 7, 2020. Ultimate Fighting Championship. Maverick was expected to make her promotional debut against Mara Romero Borella on June 27, 2020 at . However, Maverick was forced to pull out due to injury. Maverick faced Liana Jojua on October 24, 2020 at UFC 254. She won the fight via TKO due to a doctor stoppage between rounds one and two. Maverick was next expected to face Gillian Robertson at UFC 258 on  February 13, 2021. However, hours before the fight, Robertson had a non-COVID related illness and the bout was cancelled. The pair eventually was rescheduled to UFC 260 on March 27, 2021. Maverick won the fight via unanimous decision. Maverick faced Maycee Barber on July 24, 2021 at . She lost the fight via controversial split decision. 22 out of 22 media outlets scored the bout as a win for Maverick. Maverick stepped in for an injured Maycee Barber to face Erin Blanchfield on December 11, 2021 at UFC 269. She lost the fight by unanimous decision. Replacing Mandy Böhm, Maverick  faced Sabina Mazo on March 12, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 203. Maverick won the fight via rear-naked choke in round two. Personal life. As of October 2020, Maverick is currently a PhD student at Old Dominion University, studying Industrial Psychology.