Tampa — UFC Tampa flyweight Miranda Maverick was blunt and to the point about her performance against Jamey-Lyn Horth on Saturday’s Fight Night card.
“Worst victory I’ve ever gotten, worst performance I’ve ever done as far as still pulling out the win,” she told media outlets following a decision victory over the Canadian. “Just didn’t really pull out what I’ve got in there.”
Maverick (15-5) struggled to get takedowns early, had to contend with some borderline illegal elbows, and at times wound up on her own back against the lanky Canuck. Still, she came away with the W, and that counts for something.
“I’m very disappointed in my performance. I’m better than what I was. At the end of the day, a win is a win. I get paid for the win the way that I need to, hopefully re-negotiate and get higher up the ladder.”
To be fair, Maverick was not supposed to be fighting Jamey-Lyn Horth in Tampa. Her original match-up was Tracy Cortez, who pulled out of their booking, and not for the first time. Apparently done with the Cortez match-up, Miranda Maverick is now eyeing a fight with ex-strawweight champ Jessica Andrade.
“I was supposed to have a ranked opponent this time, 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,” Maverick stated. “Nobody in the top 15 to 10 wanted to fight me this time when Tracy[Cortez] dropped out. They had a five week notice and wanted to call it short-notice. So I want to keep moving up. I know this wasn’t the performance to really put a stamp on that, I’m really frustrated in how I did. But we all have flat days, and I’m blessed that on my flat day, I still pulled out a win.”
Maverick felt let down by every facet of her game against Horth. “I didn’t show my evolution. I showed low-volume, I showed low-fight IQ. Just wasn’t me.”
Still, it’s “up and onward” from here, added Maverick, who hopes to renew her UFC deal ahead of the final fight on her contract. Beyond that, she still has adoption to look forward to — as soon as Tuesday, Maverick and her husband will begin matching with expectant mothers, with the hope to expand her family next year.
How will fighting look as a mom remains to be seen, but Maverick isn’t expecting to take a ton of time off to adjust.
“That will always be my priority, is motherhood once this happens. But I won’t be taking much time off. Obviously if I go and get the kid and it’s two weeks before a fight, we’re going to have to figure something out. But I’ll try to be smart with it all, prioritize the way I always have.” Maverick is now stranger to juggling a full plate, of course. She has a full time job, and runs several business ventures, primarily Prowler Pickles and High Stakes Honey. “I’m sure I can work in this and adjust my priorities in life the same.”
Watch the full UFC Tampa post-fight press conference with Miranda Maverick above.
