Michelle Watersons dream of ending up being the very first UFC champ who is likewise a mom is still alive.
Snapping a two-fight losing streak, Waterson gutted out a split-decision win over Angela Hill in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Two judges scored it 48-47 for Waterson, while the third judge had it 49-46 for Hill. Waterson was able to rally back from a strong start by Hill to clinch what was a very close battle late.
The bout was incredibly close, Waterson stated she still felt positive with things going to the judges scorecards.
” You never want to leave it in the hands of the judges,” Waterson stated in her postfight interview. “A split choice, it does not leave a really excellent feeling in your stomach.”
1 RelatedJudge Derek Cleary had Waterson winning the last three rounds. Judge Sal DAmato had Waterson winning rounds 2 through five. And Chris Lee, the only judge who had Hill winning the battle, had Hill taking the very first, fifth and 2nd rounds.
The card happened without fans at the UFC Apex, the venue across from the UFCs corporate campus. The centerpiece had significance in the UFCs femaless strawweight division. ESPN had Waterson ranked No. 7 on the planet because weight class before the bout.
Hill was able to land her hard overhand right a number of times in the preliminary, causing some swelling around Watersons left eye and forehead. That trend continued into the 2nd round, though Waterson began to make adjustments, utilizing her myriad kicks to keep Hill at bay.
In the 3rd, Waterson acquired the momentum. After a Hill jab triggered Waterson to bleed from her nose, Waterson was able to take Hill down. Waterson had a lots of success as soon as on the ground, entering into top position, doing some damage with ground-and-pound and looking for submissions. Waterson kept things on the feet in the 4th round, but really let her vaunted kicks go. Waterson landed difficult side kicks to Hills body and one side kick that landed square to Hills jaw.
Hill ended the round with difficult knees and elbows on Waterson against the cage. The judges believed Waterson had done enough to make the choice win.
Afterward, Waterson said the challenger she wants next is “whoever is the next for the belt.”
” I wish to get to the belt as quick as possible,” Waterson said.
The New Mexico resident has actually long specified her objective to become the first mother to win a UFC title and a win here puts her back on that course. Waterson, 34, is a former Invicta FC femaless atomweight champion and a perennial competitor in the UFC at strawweight since 2015.
Hill (12-9) has lost her past two battles by close split decisions. She was outpointed by Claudia Gadelha in May. Hill formerly was on a three-fight winning streak.
Judge Sal DAmato had Waterson winning rounds 2 through five. After a Hill jab triggered Waterson to bleed from her nose, Waterson was able to take Hill down. Waterson landed difficult side kicks to Hills body and one side kick that landed square to Hills jaw.
Hill ended the round with hard knees and elbows on Waterson versus the cage. Waterson, 34, is a former Invicta FC womens atomweight champ and a seasonal contender in the UFC at strawweight because 2015.
Hill outlanded Waterson 131-128 in substantial strikes and stopped 17 of 18 takedown efforts, per UFC Stats. Hill outlanded Gadelha 4 months ago 90-84.
” This is among those fights where there was no loser. It was razor thin– it was so close,” UFC president Dana White said. “Whoever won, I wouldnt have said anything in either case.”
Hill, 35, became the first Black American lady to headline a UFC occasion Saturday night. This was Hills seventh fight considering that March 23, 2019.
” Ive just got ta go back to the drawing board,” Hill said. “I seemed like I did enough to take the 5th round. … I keep having these moments. Theres something that I need to find out in the health club and bring it into the cage for my next battle to stop that from taking place.”
