Being opposite of one another is huge mentally, let alone for any type of gameplan. The gameplan should be to utilize the ground game and to impose her will. Maverick needs to dictate where the fight takes place and make it ugly; if she allows Namajunas to create distance and deny shots, it will be a long night for Maverick. Since sparring and knowing how Namajunas trains, Maverick believes she has the right foresight.
“I’ve trained with her enough, I know she’s not going to get knocked out easy, she’s not going to get submitted easy. I see this being a hard three-round battle. A win is a win, and I want it to be dominant.”
The best place in the Octagon to be dominant is during the wrestling and grappling exchanges, both areas that Maverick excels in. Whether it is control time, or takedowns, Maverick has become a staple in the women’s flyweight division for both aspects of the game. Even though Maverick is undefeated in her last four, it seems that this is the moment that will really propel her into the top tier of the division.
UFC ATLANTA: Fight By Fight Preview
“This is my climb to the top,” Maverick identifies, “I have been waiting for the climb of the ladder for a while now, this is my first real opportunity to show where I’m at, and I am ready to take full advantage of that.”
With a win over Namajunas, Maverick can put herself in the top 10 at 125 pounds and look to get some of these early losses avenged. Success starts with the mental aspect of the game and Maverick has done a good job in keeping in check.
“I’m ready to go in there and get five wins in a row. She has the speed, I have the strength, and we’ll just see who comes out on top,” Maverick concludes. “I’ve got all the motivation, and I’ve got all the momentum behind me, so now’s the time.”
