Kicking off the UFC 298 card in Anaheim on Saturday were a pair of women’s flyweights, as veteran Andrea Lee took on occasional training partner Miranda Maverick.
Nine years apart in age, Maverick was nevertheless a few years into her UFC career, while Lee, a former LFC champ, was badly in need of a win after piling up three straight losses. A striker versus wrestler match-up on paper, Lee would also want to avoid the ground game if possible.
Early on, Maverick showed that was going to be easier said than down, pursuing a takedown inside of a minute. Lee, however, reversed position quite fluidly, and before long they were back up — only for Lee to execute a picture-perfect suplex. Again, the pair would not stay down long, and on the feet, it was Maverick connecting first with a left hand, then a leg kick.
Lee would connect to the body with a kick at the midway mark of the round, but it was Maverick finding more and more success with that left. Another body kick landed for Lee, another left hand for Maverick as the pair settled into a back-and-forth rhythm. In the final minute, Maverick went after a second takedown attempt, landing this one about 15 seconds ahead of the horn.
Round two saw some more back-and-forth until Maverick finally was able to implement her ground game about two minutes in. Maverick got the fight down and went to work along the fence, while sitting in Lee’s guard. Lee, however, was never in danger and made it back up with two minutes still on the clock. The only problem was, thanks to Maverick’s money left hand, Lee was being out-struck on the feet.
Andrea Lee’s corner encouraged her to get out of her own head between rounds. “KGB” seemed to react at least somewhat, putting together a combination or two early in the round. Maverick answered back with a punch to the body. Time, however, was a factor, and even when Lee had success, Maverick was a threat with her wrestling — landing another takedown with just over a minute left in the frame. Lee threw up a triangle while firing elbows, but simply ran out of time. That sealed the deal, with Maverick securing her fourth win in five fights, and Lee suffering a career-worst fourth consecutive loss.
Official Result: Miranda Maverick def. Andrea Lee by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
