5 Defining Moments: Michelle Waterson

A steep uphill climb once again awaits Michelle Waterson.

Not unfamiliar with the underdog role, Waterson will try to improve her standing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s strawweight division when she collides with the favored Marina Rodriguez in the UFC on ESPN 24 main event this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The undersized Waterson has exceeded expectations since she joined the UFC roster in 2015, having compiled a 6-4 record despite being forced to compete 10 pounds above her natural weight class. The 35-year-old Aurora, Colorado, native last appeared at UFC Fight Night 177, where she eked out a split decision over Angela Hill on Sept. 12.

As Waterson prepares for her Top 10 battle with Rodriguez, a look at five of the moments that have come to define her:

1. Bounty Hunter

Waterson struck gold for the first time in her career when she submitted Jessica Penne with an armbar and laid claim to the Invicta Fighting Championships atomweight title in the Invicta 5 main event on April 5, 2013 at the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. Penne conceded defeat 2:31 into Round 4. Theirs was a seesaw affair that featured mostly grappling exchanges. Penne appeared to seize command in the third round, where she took down the Jackson-Wink MMA standout, applied her ground-and-pound and achieved full mount before threatening with an armbar. Waterson survived the close call, pressed the issue into Round 4 and stepped on the accelerator. She sprawled on a takedown attempt from Penne, advanced to her back and transitioned to a sensational over-the-top armbar for the finish.

2. Dethroned

Tiburcio submitted Waterson with a third-round guillotine choke to capture the Invicta Fighting Championships atomweight title in the Invicta 10 headliner on Dec. 5, 2014 at the Arena Theatre in Houston. Waterson tapped out 64 seconds into Round 3, a shocking upset having come to fruition. Tiburcio brought the fight to the incumbent champion and engaged her on the ground, where she successfully navigated Waterson’s treacherous guard. “The Karate Hottie” attempted several armbars, none of which were successful. The tide began to turn in the challenger’s favor late in the first round, as the 21-year-old Tiburcio swept into top position and cut through the Mike Winkeljohn protege’s defenses with a savage standing-to-ground right hand. The blow resulted in significant damage to Waterson’s left eye. The Brazilian carried the newfound momentum through the second round. Early in round three, Tiburcio countered a Waterson kick with a takedown and ensnared her in the choke during the subsequent transition. A reluctant tapout came next, the Invicta championship changing hands in stunning fashion.

3. Time of Arrival

Waterson’s long-awaited Ultimate Fighting Championship debut went according to plan, as she submitted Angela Magana with a third-round rear-naked choke at “The Ultimate Fighter 21” Finale on July 12, 2015. “The Karate Hottie” coaxed the tapout 2:38 into Round 3 inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Magana threatened the upset with a tight armbar in the first round. Waterson survived the harrowing exchange and controlled the remainder of the fight. She advanced to mount in the first and second rounds, chipping away at Magana’s resolve from the top. In the third, Waterson executed a takedown, climbed to the back and flattened out the fading Alliance MMA export. Unanswered punches and slashing hammerfists preceded the choke.

4. Peak Performance

Waterson stole whatever hype that was left surrounding Paige VanZant, as she made her move in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s strawweight division and rendered the Team Alpha Male standout unconscious with a first-round rear-naked choke in their UFC on Fox 22 headliner on Dec. 17, 2016 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. VanZant blacked out 3:21 into Round 1. The former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder kept VanZant at bay with sidekicks to the body and sneaky right hooks before engaging her in the clinch. From there, Waterson executed an exquisite head-and-arm throw, immediately advanced to the back and secured her position with a body triangle. VanZant struggled to free herself from the choke that followed, but her efforts proved unsuccessful and referee John McCarthy was forced to dive in for the rescue when her arms went limp.

5. Access Denied

Rose Namajunas submitted Waterson with a rear-naked in the second round of their UFC on Fox 24 co-main event on April 15, 2017 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Waterson bowed out 2:47 into Round 2. Namajunas countered a successful but ill-advised head-and-arm thrown from the Jackson-Wink MMA standout in the first round by transitioning to the back and threading her hooks before ultimately settling in full guard. Elbow-laced ground-and-pound followed, setting the stage for what was to come. Namajunas slammed home a head kick early in the middle stanza, jumped into side control and pounded away with hammerfists and elbows. Waterson withstood the initial onslaught but exposed her back in the transition. Soon after, the choke was in place, and “The Karate Hottie” was forced to tap following a brief struggle.