Marina Rodriguez delivered a stunning display of violence en route to a second-round TKO against the ‘Karate Hottie’ at UFC Vegas 79.
Waterson-Gomez came out immediately looking to pressure Rodriguez and managed to put the Brazilian on her back in the opening seconds with a slick double-leg takedown. Rodriguez worked her way back up just past the 90-second mark and landed some solid knees in the clinch prompting Waterson-Gomez to back off.
Attempting to shoot for another takedown, Waterson-Gomez again found herself getting lit up in the clinch. With two minutes to go, Waterson-Gomez was a bloody mess after enduring a barrage of vicious knees and elbows from Rodriguez. To her credit, Waterson-Gomez never once stopped fighting back and miraculously managed to make it out of the first round.
In the second round, Waterson-Gomez continued to attempt to take things to the ground, but a reversal from Rodriguez allowed her to mount the ‘Karate Hottie’ and unleash a flurry of elbows that forced the referee to step and mercifully call for the stoppage.
Official Result: Marina Rodriguez def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez via TKO (elbows) at 2:42 of Round 2.
Check Out Highlights From Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Marina Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 79 Below:
Marina Rodriguez giving Michelle Waterson the beating of a lifetime pic.twitter.com/Zj9FtEkcoc
— Sober Costa
(@SoberlCosta) September 24, 2023
(@SoberlCosta)
MAJOR pressure from Marina Rodriguez for the stoppage
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 24, 2023
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