TAMPA, Fla. – Miranda Maverick left UFC on ESPN 63 victorious but disappointed.
Despite her win over Jamey-Lyn Horth on the prelims at Amalie Arena, Maverick (15-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) was supremely critical of the performance that earned her a unanimous decision victory.
“Worst victory I’ve ever gotten. Worst performance I’ve ever done as far as still pulling out the win,” Maverick told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I just didn’t really pull out what I’ve got in there. I’m very disappointed in my performance. I’m better than what I was. But at the end of the day, a win is a win. I get paid for the win the way that I need to. Hopefully, I’ll renegotiate and get higher up the ladder.”
Horth (7-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) was a short notice replacement for injured Tracy Cortez, whom Maverick has been matched up with twice but has yet to fight. Initially, Maverick vs. Cortez (11-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) was expected to take place in July. Cortez was moved from that bout to a main event vs. Rose Namajunas. After Cortez lost, she was rebooked vs. Maverick. However, she withdrew due to an injury that required surgery.
Given the history of cancellations, Maverick has lost her taste for a potential rebooking. She’d much rather fight former UFC champion Jessica Andrade instead.
“I was supposed to have a ranked opponent this time,” Maverick said. “I still want a ranked opponent next. I’d love to fight Jessica Andrade in April. She’s inspired me a lot through this journey. Nobody in the top 15 or top 10 wanted to fight me when Tracy dropped out. They had five weeks’ notice and wanted to call it short notice. So I want to keep moving up. … It’s two times (Cortez) has had to fight me now. We gave it an 80 percent chance she was going to drop out this time. What happened was she dropped out and then magically four days later she says she’s ready to fight again. Weird.”
The potential matchup vs. Andrade (26-13 MMA, 17-11 UFC) interests Maverick for multiple reasons. It’s an opportunity to fight up the rankings, yes – but also Maverick thinks it would be a great style fight for the fans given their perceived similarities.
“We’re both kind of built the same as muscular, stocky girls in the division,” Maverick said. “I’ve been watching her fight since I started in the UFC. I was a kid watching Jessica Andrade on TV fighting. 15-10, no girls wanted to fight. I could call out specific names. Obviously, there’s Tracy. Casey O’Neill is not taking a fight for three times now. Even a short notice against her, she didn’t want to take against me. (There were) at least two other girls in that 15-10 lineup. Skip them. Let’s go onto Andrade. We’ll put on a hell of performance and be a fan favorite.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 63.
