Miranda Maverick Bio
Miranda Rachelle Maverick, born on July 1, 1997, in Tunas, Missouri, is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the women’s Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Known for her strength and grappling skills, she began her journey in martial arts at the age of sixteen after watching Ronda Rousey fight on television. Maverick has since become a noteworthy competitor inside the UFC flyweight rankings.
Standing 5 feet 3 inches tall with a 65-inch reach, she fights out of Norfolk, Virginia, and represents Team Elevation. She holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has built a professional record defined by a steady stream of submissions and decisions.
Early Life and Background
Miranda Rachelle Maverick was born and raised in Tunas, Missouri, in the United States. She grew up working on her family farm, moving around many states across the Midwest and Southern United States. That upbringing gave her the physical strength that she is now known for throughout the martial arts community.
Maverick started grappling when she was sixteen, encouraged by her father while watching Ronda Rousey fight on television. She joined the men’s varsity wrestling team at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, Missouri, during her senior year. Although she eventually stopped wrestling after realizing she would not pursue it in college, the experience laid the foundation for her later transition into mixed martial arts.
Despite her focus on fighting, Maverick graduated with honors from Drury University in 2018, where she majored in psychology and sociology. She later relocated to Norfolk, Virginia, to enroll in a PhD program in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Old Dominion University, where she continues to live and train.
Path to MMA
Maverick began her amateur career in 2015, fighting under promotions including the Kansas City Fighting Alliance, ShoFight, and The Blue Corner. She compiled a 7–1 amateur record, captured both the Blue Corner and ShoFight flyweight championships, and was listed as the number one amateur woman in her region on Tapology at the time she turned professional. Her amateur success drew the attention of Invicta Fighting Championships president Shannon Knapp, who signed her to the organization.
Miranda Maverick Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Miranda Rachelle Maverick made her professional debut on November 18, 2016, at Invicta FC 20, where she defeated Samantha Diaz via rear-naked choke in the first round. She followed that performance with a first-round submission win over Kalyn Schwartz at Invicta FC 22 in March 2017 and a unanimous decision victory over Gabby Romero at Invicta FC 24. These early finishes established her reputation as a dangerous grappler on the regional and Invicta stages.
In July 2018, Maverick suffered her first professional setback, losing a unanimous decision to Brogan Walker-Sanchez at Invicta FC 30. She responded later that year with a submission win over Victoria Leonardo at Invicta FC 31, setting the stage for a return to the win column heading into 2019.
Invicta Fighting Championships Breakthrough (2019–2020)
After a unanimous decision loss to DeAnna Bennett at Invicta 34 in February 2019, Maverick entered the Invicta Phoenix Series flyweight tournament. She defeated Victoria Leonardo by unanimous decision in the opening round, submitted Shanna Young via rear-naked choke in the semifinal, and then captured the tournament title with a third-round neck-crank submission of DeAnna Bennett in the finals.
The tournament victory cemented her standing in the flyweight division. She capped her Invicta run with a win over Pearl Gonzalez at Invicta FC 39 on February 7, 2020, before transitioning to the UFC roster.
UFC Era (2020–Present)
Maverick was originally scheduled to debut against Mara Romero Borella at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker in June 2020, but she was forced to withdraw due to injury. She finally entered the Octagon on October 24, 2020, at UFC 254, defeating Liana Jojua by TKO after a doctor stoppage between rounds one and two. She followed that with a unanimous decision win over Gillian Robertson at UFC 260 in March 2021.
In July 2021, Maverick faced Maycee Barber at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw, dropping a controversial split decision in which 22 of 22 media outlets scored the fight for her. Later that year, she stepped in on short notice to face Erin Blanchfield at UFC 269 and lost by unanimous decision. She rebounded in 2022 with a second-round rear-naked choke of Sabina Mazo at UFC Fight Night 203 and a unanimous decision over Shanna Young at UFC Fight Night 214.
In 2023, Maverick suffered a unanimous decision loss to Jasmine Jasudavicius at UFC 289 before answering with a third-round armbar submission of Priscila Cachoeira at UFC 291. She opened 2024 with a unanimous decision win over Andrea Lee at UFC 298, then added decision victories over Dione Barbosa at UFC on ESPN 60 and Jamey-Lyn Horth at UFC on ESPN 63. On June 14, 2025, she faced former two-time UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas at UFC on ESPN 69, losing by unanimous decision in a high-profile step up in competition.
Style and Strengths
Maverick is known primarily for her grappling. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Mackens Semerzier, she has won multiple professional bouts by rear-naked choke and armbar. She pairs that ground game with the physical strength she developed growing up on her family farm, using clinch work and top pressure to control opponents.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her Invicta Phoenix Series tournament victory stands as one of the defining moments of her career, as does her UFC debut finish of Liana Jojua at UFC 254. The split decision loss to Maycee Barber, scored 22–0 in her favor by media, remains a widely discussed result, and her booking against former champion Rose Namajunas marked the biggest test of her UFC run.
Miranda Maverick Career Wins
Miranda Rachelle Maverick has compiled 15 professional wins since turning pro in 2016, with seven coming by submission, six by decision, and one by knockout. Her grappling-heavy finishing rate has been a defining feature of her record, with multiple wins coming by rear-naked choke and armbar.
Invicta Highlights
Maverick went 7–1 as an Invicta Fighting Championships athlete, capturing the Phoenix Series flyweight tournament title in 2019 with three consecutive wins, including a third-round neck-crank submission of DeAnna Bennett in the final. She closed her Invicta tenure with a win over Pearl Gonzalez at Invicta FC 39 in February 2020.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of major promotions, Maverick captured the Blue Corner and ShoFight amateur flyweight championships in 2015, finishing her amateur career at 7–1. She also won a silver medal in the brown belt lightweight division at the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship in 2023, adding to her grappling resume.
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Miranda Maverick Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Miranda Rachelle Maverick grew up in Tunas, Missouri, on a family farm that took her across the Midwest and Southern United States. Her father introduced her to combat sports by encouraging her to start grappling at age sixteen while they watched Ronda Rousey fight together on television.
Personal Life
Maverick lives in Norfolk, Virginia, where she trains out of Team Elevation under coaches Jake Chamberlain and Mackens Semerzier. She has previously trained at The House of Muay Thai and Semerzier BJJ, and she continues to pursue graduate studies in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Old Dominion University.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign has been a step up in opposition for Miranda Rachelle Maverick. Her June 14, 2025, booking against former two-time UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas at UFC on ESPN 69 marked the highest-profile fight of her UFC tenure. Although she dropped a unanimous decision in that bout, the appearance placed her against a seasoned veteran and former titleholder.
Throughout the year, Maverick remained ranked inside the UFC women’s flyweight top ten, and her earlier 2024 decision wins over Andrea Lee, Dione Barbosa, and Jamey-Lyn Horth carried momentum into the schedule. Working with her long-time team at Team Elevation, she has continued to develop her grappling-heavy style in search of a late-2025 return to the win column.
Looking ahead, Maverick’s path to a higher ranking runs through ranked flyweight contenders and high-volume grapplers, where her submission arsenal and decision-making can be decisive. A bounce-back finish against a ranked opponent would strengthen her position heading into 2026 and reinforce her standing in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions.