Michelle Waterson News

Drake Riggs - January 8, 2019

Today the UFC announced that their second event on the ESPN channel will be taking place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event got its first bout in a strawweight affair between top prospects Alexa Grasso (10-2) and Marina Rodriguez (10-0-1) after it was moved from UFC Fortaleza due to a Rodriguez injury.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Cynthia Calvillo has not had a particularly easy year. After experiencing her first professional loss, a decision defeat to Carla Esparza, in late 2017, she tested positive for marijuana metabolites and was suspended for 9 months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Last weekend, however, on the main card of UFC Argentina, the rising prospect finally got back in the cage, where she rebounded from her loss to Esparza with a first-round submission defeat of Brazil’s Poliana Botelho.

Chris Taylor - October 6, 2018

A women’s strawweight bout between Felice Herrig and Michelle Waterson kicked off tonight’s UFC 229 main card from Las Vegas. Felice Herrig is coming off a split-decision loss to former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz in her most recent outing at UFC 223. Prior to the setback, Herrig had reeled off four straight wins.

Drake Riggs - October 1, 2018

.@karatehottiemma on the drama between longtime teammate Donald Cerrone and coach Mike Winkeljohn: "Families get into fights sometimes." Watch #UFC229 media lunch: https://t.co/dgnREbN9wj pic.twitter.com/fwUVpXlzjT — MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) October 1, 2018

Chris Taylor - April 14, 2018

UFC Glendale Results: Michelle Waterson defeats Cortney Casey A women’s strawweight bout between Michelle Waterson and Cortney Casey kicked off tonight’s UFC on FOX 29 main card in Glendale, Arizona.

Tom Taylor - April 13, 2018

Last weekend, Conor McGregor and a handful of his cronies unleashed a ridiculous rampage in Brooklyn, New York—the host city for UFC 223. This rampage reached its violent crescendo when McGregor threw a hand truck threw the window of a shuttle bus carrying multiple UFC 223 fighters, injuring both Ray Borg and Michael Chiesa. It was a terrible scene, and UFC strawweight Michelle Waterson is worried what will happen if it goes unpunished. Speaking at a Thursday media day promoting her Saturday night UFC Glendale clash with Cortney Casey, Waterson explained this worry.

Drake Riggs - February 8, 2018

The UFC touches down in Glendale, Arizona this April and the card is really shaping up to be a great one. The event is already topped off with two all-violence level matchups featuring Dustin Poirier against Justin Gaethje in the main event and Matt Brown vs Carlos Condit in the co-main. And now the UFC has brought the ladies into the mix as AZCentral reports that the former Invicta FC Atomweight champion, Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson will be taking on MMA Lab product, Cortney Casey.

Tom Taylor - January 2, 2018

Former Invicta atomweight champion Michelle Waterson started the year 2017 as one of the hottest contenders in the UFC strawweight division. Regrettably, the year did not unfurl the way she planned. First, she came up short to new champion Rose Namajunas, succumbing to a second-round rear-naked choke after being dropped by a head kick. Next, she lost a decision to Tecia Torres, closing out the year with a tough 0-2 mark in the Octagon.

Russell Ess - November 29, 2017

If you saw UFC strawweight Michelle Waterson outside of training or competing in the Octagon, it’s likely that you would never guess that she beats people up for a living. With a nickname like the “Karate Hottie,” Waterson is known for her good looks and also for her skills as a professional MMA fighter.

Justin Golightly - November 2, 2017

Back in the beginning of October, the UFC announced a partnership with a drink company co-founded by Kobe Bryant named BODYARMOR. The press release revealed just how involved they would be, especially inside the new UFC Performance Institute. Before the ink dried on the contract, we all knew this would eventually lead to sponsorships of UFC fighters. After the final UFC 217 presser today, BODYARMOR had their own time to officially present the new fighters signed on to team BODYARMOR. We’re at the launch of the first ever official UFC drinks partner @DrinkBODYARMOR. Recognize anyone up there on the stage? pic.twitter.com/BQ4B5AbLKo

Justin Golightly - October 17, 2017

If you thought the UFC were done announcing fights, think again. And if you think MTV is going to stop Michelle Waterson from fighting, you’re wrong. It was just revealed that Waterson would be competing on The Challenge raising money for charity. Naturally we thought this meant she’d be taking a break from fighting, but that isn’t the case. The UFC just announced that Karate Hottie will be fighting Tecia Torres at a ridiculously stacked UFC 218 card in Detriot. DETROIT! You got #AnotherOne@TeciaTorres takes on @KarateHottieMMA at #UFC218!!

Justin Golightly - October 12, 2017

Michelle Waterson, better known as “Karate Hottie”, looked like she was headed for a good streak in the UFC. She submitted both Angela Magana and Paige Van Zant before falling to latest UFC strawweight title challenger, Rose Namajunas. That was back in April, but it looks like we won’t see Waterson back in the Octagon soon. Fortunately, it’s for a good cause. Michelle Waterson will compete on MTV’s The Challenge in order to raise money for the Merging Vets & Players charity. “MTV’s most iconic franchise “The Challenge” is back again with the debut of an eight-week special event “The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars.” Hosted by WWE superstar and former challenge competitor, Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, “Champs vs. Stars” will feature ten of the fiercest champions from past “Challenge” seasons. The alumni go head-to-head against ten celebrity athletes and entertainers in challenge-style competitions to determine who will reign supreme. Winners will compete for a chance to take a share of the $150,000 cash prize to donate to their beloved charities. “The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars” premieres November 21st at 10 p.m. ET/PT.”

Russell Ess - June 26, 2017

Michelle Waterson is no stranger to being in front of the camera. However, things were a bit different this time as she stripped down to her birthday suit for the new 2017 ESPN Body Issue. The ninth annual Body Issue is set to come out on newsstands on July 7 while featured photos and videos will be posted to the ESPN website on July 5.

Russell Ess - April 17, 2017

UFC strawweight Michelle Waterson lost for the first time in the UFC over the weekend. Waterson met Rose Namajunas at UFC on FOX 24 and was submitted in the second round by a rear-naked choke locked on by Namajunas.

Tom Taylor - April 16, 2017

Last night, in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 24, fan favorite strawweight “The Karate Hottie” Michelle Waterson stepped onto the canvas with the ever-dangerous Rose Namajunas. Had she won this fight, she likely would have earned herself a shot at the winner of Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade’s strawweight title fight, which is scheduled for UFC 211 this May 13. Regrettably for Waterson and her legions of fans, it was simply Namajunas’ night.

Chris Taylor - April 15, 2017

Perennial women’s strawweight contender Rose Namajunas scored an impressive second-round submission victory (rear-naked choke) over Michelle Waterson in the co-main event of tonight’s UFC on FOX 24 fight card in Kansas City. Rose was able to catch “The Karate Hottie” with a brutal high kick early in the second-round that sent Waterson crashing to the canvas. (Watch that here).

Russell Ess - April 14, 2017

Michelle Waterson is set to take on Rose Namajunas this weekend in a women’s strawweight fight that could set up the winner to be a step closer to fighting for the title. “The Karate Hottie” posted a photo to Instagram on Friday looking shredded for the UFC on FOX 24 fight coming up on Saturday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Tom Taylor - April 12, 2017

This weekend, in the co-main event of the UFC’s trip to Kansas City, Michelle Waterson and Rose Namajunas will collide in a crucial strawweight contender bout. The winner of this fight could well earn the next crack at the winner of Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade’s UFC 211 title fight – at least, that’s what the champ Jedrzejczyk thinks. “I believe that the winner of the fight between Michelle Waterson and Rose Namajunas will be my next opponent,” the champ told Fox Sports. “I will be watching this fight.”