Ukrainian UFC warrior Maryna Moroz remains stateside while her friends and family try to protect themselves against Russian military attacks.
While Moroz prepared for her fight against former training partner and rival Mariya Agapova, a war started in her country. On the night of UFC 272, she prove the strength of her people, as she told the public she would.
(David Becker/Getty Images)
Agapova fell prey to “The Iron Lady’s” strength and was defeated in round 2 via an arm-triangle choke. It was not only a win to end their bitter rivalry, but also a victory for her home.
Moroz knows her fellow Ukrainians are dying, and sadly, she still receives news of friends succumbing to the tragic attacks. Additionally, she knows that although her family is struggling they are staying in Ukraine to fight.
“My sister and my mother take guns for protection, for not war, for protection, home protection, country, because Russian come and start like terrorist. Kill everybody, kill kids, and last news today I see 82 kids die, and I so cry. Every day I’m using pills because I’m nervous, cry, I cannot stop, I feel like almost my family dying and my country dying. It’s so scary,” Moroz explained in an interview with Fox News.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxtT-98r3lc&t=2s
The concern for her people builds as the conflict in Europe worsens.
Moroz now holds a 3-fight win streak. After settling her rivalry with Agapova, fans of the sole female Ukrainian UFC fighter surely anticipate her next match in the Octagon, but there is uncertainty surrounding her next bout amid current events.
What are your thoughts on Maryna Moroz’s family staying in Ukraine during the conflict in Europe?
At UFC 272, Moroz did what she set out to do that night and left no room to talk. On Saturday, she shut down their rivalry by submitting the “Demonslayer” in the second round of their match.
Maryna Moroz and Mariya Agapova, Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Due to injuries, the Octagon has not seen the Ukrainian fighter for two years, yet she fought like she hasn’t missed a day.
Born in Vil’nohirs’k, Ukraine, Moroz fights while her family is at home. The immense pressure to fight that night, for herself and for her country, is an inspiration to many.
Fellow American Top Team member and decorated UFC fighter Joanna Jędrzejczyk showed nothing but respect for Moroz.
“Maryna Moroz was sitting here a minute ago. Guys, she put on a hell of a performance. It’s been two years, she hasn’t fought because of so many injuries. But we all know what’s happening in Ukraine, in Europe, and I think she deserves double bravo or respect (for) how she’s handling all of this. It’s hard. Her family is there, in Ukraine, fighting for life. So this girl has done really big things tonight. So big congrats Maryna. We are very happy for you,” Jędrzejczyk stated in a media scrum following UFC 272.
After the impressive win, Moroz was brought to tears in a post-fight interview when explaining the situation in Ukraine.
Moroz fought hard on March 5, and as the only female fighter in the UFC from Ukraine, she has shown how remarkable she truly is.
What are your thoughts on Maryna Moroz’s UFC 272 performance?
UFC women’s flyweight Maryna Moroz says the UFC’s official Russian Instagram account blocked her based on her nationality.
While fighting is, in itself, an intense sport with high stakes, not many will have entered a cage in as difficult a scenario as Moroz did this past weekend. With war waging in her native country of Ukraine, “Iron Lady” took to the Octagon at UFC 272 to face Mariya Agapova.
In the context of her fighting career, Moroz’s first-round submission represented victory in her first fight since 2020, extended her win streak to three, and earned bragging rights over her former ATT teammate.
But more importantly, it saw the 30-year-old Ukrainian fight through an immense level of adversity and emotion that few will experience in their lifetime. Ultimately, Moroz proudly held her flag aloft inside the T-Mobile Arena and delivered a victory for her country that comes at a time when so many have experienced personal losses.
The Iron Lady Maryna Moroz makes it 𝑻𝑯𝑹𝑬𝑬-𝑺𝑻𝑹𝑨𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻! 👏
While her focus has, and will continue to be, directed towards her family in Ukraine, an Eastern European country in the midst of a Russian invasion, it seems the tension between the two nations hasn’t been reserved for solely across the Atlantic in Moroz’s case.
“Yeah (I was happy with my performance). I think people forget about me,” said Moroz. “Because before I win fight, I have records, year 2020 (was my last win). But, you know, you see, Russian Instagram doesn’t post me after my (last fight). He blocked me. But after I give interview, he unblocked, but never posted me, only posted my opponent. It gave me more energy to win this fight.”
While she didn’t provide a name, the “he” she refers to could be the UFC’s Vice President of Russia & CIS, Andre Gromkowski, who frequently posts about the account’s growth across social media.
When asked why she believes the account blocked her, Moroz simply said with a shrug, “Because I’m from Ukraine.”
Moroz Reveals Difficult Pre-Fight Feelings
Following her victory at UFC 272, Moroz was brought to tears as she took the mic in front of the crowd and entire fanbase.
Having addressed the ongoing conflict in her country during fight week and spoken out against the man behind it, “Iron Lady” let her emotions out after what has undoubtedly been a difficult period for the flyweight.
Discussing the pressure she felt as she tried to balance her worries about Ukraine with the preparation for her fight, Moroz further told the media about the nerves she was feeling in the days leading up to the March 5 PPV.
“I had a lot of pressure. I was nervous about the war in Ukraine,” said Moroz. “All this week, I felt nervous, I was crying. But I tried to focus… It was really hard for me because I see in Ukraine how terrible the situation is. But I focused, and I won the fight.” (h/t MMA Fighting)
Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of MMA News or its members.
Two days after the invasion, as Russian forces were closing in on his hometown of Irpin, Ukraine, Bellator Welterweight Champion Yaroslav Amosov addressed his Instagram followers.
“Probably, many will think that I ran away, I’m hiding or something like that, but this is not so,” said Amosov. “I took my family to the safe zone. Now I have returned and will defend this country as best I can, with what I can.”
Amosov is one of several high profile Ukrainian fighters taking up arms against a Russian invasion that has so far claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians. Boxing greats Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, who are reportedly on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ‘kill list,’ have also vowed to serve on the front lines. So too current boxing stars Oleksandr Usyk and Vasyl Lomachenko.
While these men and so many other Ukrainians are risking their lives to defend their homeland, it almost seems trivial to talk about the implications that the Russian invasion may have for MMA. But with much of the West placing economic sanctions on Russia and as the horrors of the war continue to unfold before us, should top promotions like the UFC and Bellator make an ethical decision to ban Russian fighters from competing?
Left: Former heavyweight boxing great and current mayor of Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko. Right: Pound-for-pound boxing great Vasyl Lomachenko in the military fatigues of the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky Territorial Defense Battalion.
A War Bleeding Into Global Sport
Last week, Polish-based MMA promotion KSW did just that, making what it termed an “ethically justifiable decision” to cancel Russian fighter Shamil Musaev’s upcoming fight. While this decision must be considered within the context of Poland’s close geopolitical proximity to the war in Ukraine, the ban followed similar actions taken by some of the world’s biggest sporting bodies.
Due to the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, KSW has made a tough, albeit ethically justifiable, decision to cancel Russian fighter Shamil Musaev’s fight, which was scheduled for KSW 68 on March 19th in Radom.
FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, has banned Russia from competing at the World Cup, and similar bans have also followed in tennis, hockey, athletics, and F1 racing. Countries, too, have made a point of punishing Russian athletes. Shortly following the invasion of Ukraine, the UK government cancelled visas issued to the men’s basketball team of Belarus, a close Russian ally, banning it from the country.
I have cancelled the visas of the Belarusian Men’s Basketball Team who were due to play in Newcastle tomorrow night.
The UK will not welcome the national sports teams of those countries who are complicit in Putin’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of #Ukraine.
This particular ban could have near-term implications for the UFC, which will hold its first event in the UK since the COVID-19 outbreak two years ago. UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall, set for March 19 in London, will feature four Russian fighters, including heavyweights Shamil Abdurakhimov, Sergei Pavlovich, and headliner Alexander Volkov. Their participation in the card is now in doubt thanks to the UK government’s hardline stance.
UFC President Dana White, whose forehead vein seems to be at bursting point most of the time thanks to the logistical nightmares presented by COVID-19, now has the political ramifications of a European war to factor into his event planning. Not only is the aforementioned Fight Night in doubt, but Petr Yan could also face difficulties entering the US for his long-awaited rematch with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 on April 9 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Petr Yan (PHOTO: USA TODAY)
“Like I tell you guys all the time, just when you think the world’s about to get normal again, it gets even nuttier,” White said in an interview with TSN last week. “If Petr Yan cannot get into the country?’ I have no idea what’s going to happen with Russia and all these other things. I don’t know.”
And it’s not only Petr Yan who may face visa challenges. You never know how the US government might treat a fighter like Khamzat Chimaev, who while a naturalized Swede, maintains close ties with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov—a loyal ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Argument Against Banning Russian MMA Fighters
Vladimir Putin, like many strong-man leaders of the former Soviet Union, has a history of fraternizing with some of MMA’s biggest stars. A long-time relationship with Russian heavyweight great Fedor Emelianenko, in between much publicized meetings with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, have all been part of his attempt to “sportswash” the many crimes of his regime.
A ban on Russians competing in the likes of the UFC or Bellator would therefore seem by some an appropriate punitive measure against Putin. But as the Russian military becomes bogged down in an increasingly difficult war, while suffering the dire economic consequences of US-led sanctions, banning Russian fighters—or any of its athletes, for that matter—is highly unlikely to register on Putin’s list of things to worry about, nor factor into his geopolitical decisions going forward. Rather, it will simply punish the fighters.
Regardless of any ethical argument in favor of a ban, the UFC, which under the guise of Dana White has historically been staunchly apolitical, is far from likely to place a ban on Russian fighters. Considering there are 27 Russians currently fighting in the promotion—the third largest national cohort after the US and Brazil—the effect on the UFC’s bottom line would be dire.
The Silence Of Russian Fighters
So, perhaps the ethical responsibility of denouncing the Russian invasion falls upon the nations fighters? Newly-signed Ukrainian UFC light heavyweight Ihor Potiera believes so. Last week, the Contender Series alum called out freshly-minted UFC Hall of Famer Nurmagomedov for remaining silent on the conflict.
“You were loved by millions,” Potiera said in an Instagram story (h/t Bloody Elbow). “You’ve been an example in many martial arts gyms. You started your career in Ukraine. You speak about honor and faith. And now you are silent.”
Khabib, however, isn’t the only Russian MMA fighter to remain silent on the Ukraine war. Thus far, only Petr Yan has made a statement, posting a peace symbol in a since-deleted Instagram story. However, it must be noted that in a country like Russia, no matter how nominally democratic it is, those who voice dissent at a time of war could face severe consequences.
But while the UFC’s Russian fighters have remained silent, those from Ukraine certainly haven’t. And perhaps the most outspoken has been women’s flyweight Maryna Moroz, who following her victory at UFC 272 on Saturday, delivered an emotional speech that showed just how real the conflict is for Ukraine’s fighters.
“My family is in Ukraine,” said Moroz to the Las Vegas crowd. “I had a hard week. I worried, I cried, because my family is right now in a bad situation. Thank you to everyone who messaged me, because this week was hard for me. I want to cry because of this war my country is in.”
UFC flyweight Mariya Agapova isn’t planning on fighting on emotion ahead of her grudge match against Maryna Moroz at UFC 272.
Agapova and Moroz used to be cordial as teammates at American Top Team in south Florida. But their respect for one another as teammates has fizzled out in recent years.
It all started when Moroz accused Agapova of struggling with drug addiction and jealousy, which allegedly led to her dismissal from ATT. Agapova has since denied Moroz’s claims and called her out following a win over Sabina Mazo last October.
Moroz has also claimed that Agapova attempted to injure her teammates during training. The two flyweights have a score to settle at UFC 272 following their series of back-and-forths.
During a recent interview with The AllStar, Agapova detailed how she plans to not fight on emotion against her ex-teammate turned adversary.
“I think, if I will be affected and mad, that might be her weapon,” Agapova said. “Because she’s purposely trying to drive me crazy. She post a lot of stories; she talking sh*t about me. She’s trying to make me mad because she knows if I get mad I will try to punch her hard and I will waste all my energy, and she will finish me like Shana Dobson. It’s what she wants. That’s why she’s trying to drive me crazy. But I (decided) I’m not going to play this game. I will be calm, cold, like an assassin, and I will open her weak places and hopefully finish her.”
Agapova vs. Moroz isn’t the only matchup between former ATT teammates on the card. The event will be headlined by a welterweight matchup between former friends turned bitter rivals Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
Aside from their beef, both Agapova and Moroz need a win to stay in the thick of things in the women’s flyweight division. Both women are coming into the matchup with plenty to prove and with long-term bragging rights on the line.
What is your prediction for Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz?
Maryna Moroz will fight at UFC 272 despite Vladimir Putin’s advances on the country’s land and independence.
Born in Vilnohirsk, Ukraine, Moroz has family members to worry about during her grudge match with Kazakhstan’s Mariya Agapova on March 5.
The entire world is shaken up by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attacks against Ukraine. The act of war has and continues to take innocent Ukrainian lives.
But “The Iron Lady’s” spirit remains strong during the tragedy. And in an interview with TMZ Sports, she had a few choice words for the Russian President:
“F**k you, bitch! I love my country. Don’t touch Ukraine!”
A multitude of Russian and Ukrainian athletes have openly stated they disagree with Putin’s actions and are against war. It is a scary thought that while fighting for their country’s respect and honor, many athletes are without their families during this catastrophic time.
“It’s hard time for Ukraine. I want to support my country, my president, whole army in Ukraine, and I want to say we don’t want war. I worry about my family right now,” Moroz continued to say.
Of course, the pressure of the fight exists but it is much bigger than that now. Moroz carries Ukrainian pride and will do her best to prove the strength and resilience of her people.
“I will be fighting and I show that Ukraine people are strong, and my flag will be in the Octagon.”
Moroz joins a long list of European athletes, from soccer to MMA, competing in championships while reading the horrific news of the war on Ukraine. The UFC fighter is currently on a two-fight win streak and will look to stay in the winner’s circle despite the absence of peace in her home country.
Now, the former teammates are set to face one another at UFC 272 on March 5 and ahead of the scrap, Moroz doubled down on the trash-talk of Agapova. The event will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be headlined by a grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
“Before, I said she’s a dangerous person and it’s true. She used drugs, we have all the proof. Videos, screenshots, everything. And of course, I didn’t post it. I don’t need to. I don’t need my Instagram showing garbage,” Moroz said to CageSide Press. “This girl is garbage. I don’t want my Instagram looking like garbage. I show OnlyFans, beautiful pictures, but now I can show the journalists who is real and who is who. ‘Mashka’ is a person who is a liar, very dangerous. In interviews, she’s ‘Oh, I’m nice girl, I’m training,’” Moroz continued. “Of course, she trains, but she used drugs. She was crazy and dangerous saying she’d kill me and want to cut my face.”
Given the history between the two, this fight will be highly anticipated. Agapova called for it to happen and got her wish, as she said that she wanted to punish Moroz for her comments. She will get her chance to do so at UFC 272.
What do you make of Maryna Moroz’s trash talk about her former teammate in Mariya Agapova?
A beef between Mariya Agapova and Maryna Moroz will be settled in the UFC Octagon.
The flyweights have reportedly been booked to meet at UFC 272 on March 5th, per Raphael Marinho of Combate. The fight is expected to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
After a win two months back, Agapova had strong words for Moroz and her allegations.
“Yeah, she’s just jealous. She’s jealous. Second, she’s sneaky. She’s trying to destroy my career. I lost sponsorship because of her interview and got [into a] really big trouble situation,” said Agapova during her post-fight press conference. “And I would like to punish this b**** because she’s trying to destroy my career. I want to smash her.”
Beef Aside, Looking At Agapova vs. Moroz
PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE
Setting the beef aside, the matchup is an intriguing pairing at flyweight. The bout gives both competitors a chance to build on their short winning streaks.
The reported matchup will be Moroz’s first fight in nearly two years. This is because numerous planned bouts for her have fallen off of cards due to various reasons.
Moroz will be returning with a two-fight winning streak, having beaten Sabina Mazo and Mayra Bueno Silva in her last appearances.
Similarly, Agapova defeated Mazo in her October outing. That fight, which earned her a “Performance of the Night” bonus, also put her back into the win column after being on the losing side of a massive upset to Shana Dobson in 2020.
Do you want to see Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz?
