Miranda Maverick

Miranda 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.

Background
Maverick was born in Tunas, Missouri. 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 at Buffalo High School 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.

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.

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 Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 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 Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II 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 Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Her next fight came on July 21, 2018, facing Brogan Walker-Sanchez at Invicta FC 30. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Maverick faced Victoria Leonardo on September 1, 2018, at Invicta FC 31: Jandiroba vs. Morandin. 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 Invicta FC 39 on February 7, 2020.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Maverick was expected to make her promotional debut against Mara Romero Borella on June 27, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker. 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 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 was eventually rescheduled to UFC 260 on March 27, 2021. Maverick won the fight via unanimous decision.

Maverick faced Maycee Barber on July 24, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw. 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.

Maverick was scheduled to face Shanna Young on August 20, 2022, at UFC 278. However, the bout was cancelled when Young was hospitalized due to weight cutting issues. The pair was rescheduled at UFC Fight Night 214. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Maverick faced Jasmine Jasudavicius on June 10, 2023, at UFC 289. In an upset, she lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Maverick faced Priscila Cachoeira at UFC 291 on July 29, 2023, winning the bout via an armbar submission in the third round.

Maverick faced Andrea Lee on February 17, 2024, at UFC 298. She won the bout by unanimous decision.

Maverick was scheduled to face Tracy Cortez on July 20, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 60. However, Cortez was pulled from the event to serve as a replacement fighter at the UFC on ESPN 59 event and was replaced by Dione Barbosa. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Grappling career
Maverick won a silver medal in the brown belt lightweight division of the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship 2023.