UFC star Maryna Moroz has expressed her joy after posing nude for Playboy, saying that she "feels more energy" after joining their 'centrefold' platform.
Moroz, a former strawweight contender who has reinvented herself at flyweight with three impressive wins, made history when she became the first UFC fighter to appear on Playboy Centerfold, a new content platform the media company has launched. She is on the verge of landing a position in the UFC's rankings at 125lb, facing No.8 Jennifer Maia on November 19.
And she has blown up in popularity after the deal was announced this week, making her the first UFC fighter to sign a long-term deal with the famed publisher. Ring card girls Arianny Celeste and Brittney Palmer have both featured in the magazine, but they made one-off appearances, and weren't fighters in the promotion.
"I'm so happy," Moroz told TMZ Sports. "It’s a very good opportunity for me and I'm just ready for work... Before, I was a very closed person. Now, I think America changed me. Now I'm open and I feel more energy. When I show maybe nude pictures, people write me very good messages and I take energy.
"I think to be sexy and make pictures, it’s helped for me to relax, it helped for me to be calm... Working with Playboy is super big for me... I change everything in my life and now I am a different person. Everything changed."
Moroz's move to flyweight has clearly benefited her inside and outside of the Octagon; she defeated Sabina Mazo via unanimous decision after a period away from the sport and then followed up with a win over Mayra Bueno Silva in 2020, before submitting Mariya Agapova after a torrid series of fight cancellations and signing up to face former title contender Maia.
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The Ukrainian fighter is one of a number of UFC fighters as well as those from other promotions who have taken up side jobs to maximise their income. Tecia Torres and Raquel Pennington are using subscription service OnlyFans to fund their wedding, while Paige VanZant has multiplied her fortune by running a subscription service alongside her bare-knuckle boxing and wrestling careers.
After initially taking up some small modelling jobs adjacent to her fighting career, Moroz inked the lucrative deal with Playboy, sharing an announcement message on social media. "Happy to announce that I’ll be the first UFC Fighter on Playboy Centerfold!" She wrote.
"Can’t wait to partner up with such an iconic brand with clothing, activations, and now the platform that has all my exclusive content." Moroz was congratulated by fans in the comments who were delighted she had landed a new role, with one writing: "Congratulations beautiful." Another added: "Super cool, well done."
