Undefeated Ukrainian prospect Maryna “The Iron Woman” Moroz continued her string of upset victories with an impressive first-round finish tonight at UFC Fight Night 64: “Gonzaga vs Cro Cop 2” in Kraków, Poland. Moroz submitted heavy favourite Joanne “JoJo” Calderwood with a slick armbar.
Moroz stunned the previously unbeaten Calderwood with a flurry on the feet before pulling guard with an armbar for the quick win. In other strawweight action on tonight’s card, Aleksandra “Stitch” Albu made her long-awaited Octagon debut and submitted Polish fan favourite Izabela Badurek.
Moroz (6-0-0) countered early left hooks from Calderwood (9-1-0) with a hard combination that backed the Scottish fighter up against the cage. Mere seconds later, Moroz pulled guard and worked for her signature armbar. Calderwood initially defended, but Moroz adjusted her grip and straightened out Calderwood’s arm. She wrenched back on the hold until a dejected Calderwood tapped out.
Following tonight’s quick victory, Moroz campaigned for a fight against UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk, who was in attendance at cageside. While Moroz might not yet be ready to challenge the champion, she has embraced the role of underdog throughout her career and shocked the MMA world with another huge upset tonight.
Winner: Maryna Moroz by Submission (Armbar) at 1:30 of round one. She improves to 6-0-0.
Albu (6-0-0) damaged the left eye of Badurek (5-3-0) with stinging right hands in the opening minute. She stuffed Badurek’s takedowns and throw attempts, but Badurek landed short knees to the legs and upper body. Albu eventually broke free and scored with a series of stiff jabs, but Badurek reversed a throw and the fight returned to a clinch against the fence in the final minute.
Badurek rushed forward in round two, but Albu stunned her with a counter combination and she fought off a Badurek takedown attempt. She bloodied Badurek’s nose with punches, but Badurek took her down. Albu immediately locked on a tight guillotine choke and Badurek was forced to submit.
Albu’s victory tonight was a long time coming. The powerful Russian fighter was initially slated to make her UFC debut in late 2013 as a bantamweight, but instead opted to move down to 115 pounds after an injury sidelined her for all of 2014. She has finished her opponents in all six career wins.
Winner: Aleksandra Albu by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 3:34 of round two. She improves to 6-0-0.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)
I am starting to wonder how good Invicta is/was? These Eastern European girls are creaming the Invicta fighters from TUF. Watch out for Russian Justine Kish and more foreign flyweights dropping! Hoping Grasso and Torres carry the Invicta torch in UFC. Not sure about Jojo anymore. Moroz looked worlds better.
We have been waiting for Albu for TWO years! Think of how awful she would have been at 135. She looks like a killer at 115. Hope they give her opponent another fight.
Well said TJ. In a mere 95 seconds, Moroz has exploded onto the scene and immediately into the Top 10 of what I believe is the most stacked an exciting division in MMA. Maryna also won a $50K performance bonus — and in Ukraine, where she hails from, $50K is an almost life-changing amount of money. Moroz has talent, looks, and seems like a great personality, the way she was jawing with JJ Champion after her win! Maryna could be a another mega star in the making.
I still believe JoJo is world class and will yet prove herself. Everyone has an off night and possibly she simply underestimated Moroz. JoJo will be fine I think.
I recall Albu was scheduled to fight Julie Kedzie two years ago in Brisbane but pulled out due to injury. Albu looked great and may also be a force in the division. Very exciting times ahead!
The problem with Jojo is that she didn’t look that good on TUF and had trouble with Seo Hee Ham. SHH is a great striker, but she also is a puffed up atomweight. Now she got destroyed by someone Patrick Wymen said had no chance of beating Jojo, but looked stronger, bigger, faster, and way more talented than Jojo. So this is a trend now.