Prior to each UFC card, Jay Primetown takes a close look at debuting fighters. In the latest installment, we look at women’s strawweight Maryna Moroz as she takes on title contender Joanne Calderwood at the UFC Fight Night 64. Maryna “The Iron Woman” Moroz Hometown: Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine Age: 23 Height: 5’7” Weight Class: Women’s Strawweight Camp: YK Promotion Career Record: 5-0 Key Wins: None Key Losses: None Background The 23-year old strawweight is the first Ukrainian woman to be signed to a UFC contract. Moroz is grappling-focused fighter with four of her victories coming via armbar submission. Strengths
- Good size for the division
- Decent leg kicks from range
- Very comfortable fighting off her back
- Good armbar technique
Weaknesses
- Struggles against good strikers
- Poor striking defense
- Too willing to jump into guard
- Can be picked apart by above average strikers
- Too willing to take punches to secure an advancement in submission opportunity
- One tricky pony
Matchup with Joanne Calderwood This is a pretty straight forward matchup. Calderwood has the advantage in nearly every facet of the fight. Her striking is light years ahead of Moroz’s. The Ukrainian fighter will do everything in her power to get the fight to the ground so she can try to work in an armbar. Her only way to win this fight is by a fluke submission over the talented Scottish striker. What I expect to happen is for Calderwood to keep the fight standing for as long as the fight lasts. She will land with regularity on the feet until the referee is forced to step in and stop the fight due to the array of strikes she lands on Moroz. At time of publication, Calderwood wins inside the distance is (-111) at Several Bookmakers. That’s a good price given just how one dimensional Moroz is in her technique. UFC Ceiling Moroz was signed to the UFC just so Joanne Calderwood would be able to have an opponent on this card. The UFC wants Calderwood to win dynamically to setup a title fight in Scotland in the summer against the champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The only thing that Moroz has shown in her MMA career is that she’s capable off her back to find submissions. The rest of her technique is really lacking and isn’t UFC caliber even in an underdeveloped division. Moroz will really need to work on her striking and wrestling to have a chance at a lengthy career in the promotion. She will be beaten easily by any of the better fighters in the division. Fight Film Check out Maryna Moroz in some of her recent fights: Maryna Moroz vs. Feier Huang
Maryna Moroz vs. Karine Silva