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.

As of February 20, 2024, she is #14 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.