The “Karate Hottie” believes now is the time to cash-in following her submission win over Paige VanZant at UFC on FOX 22 this past weekend.
Waterson, in an interview with The MMA Hour, named several of the strawweight divisions elite – including the champion – as potential fights next.
“I really respect Rose (Namajunas), I think she’s a great person,” Waterson said. “I think it would be an awesome matchup. (Daniel Cormier) was wanting me to call out Carla (Esparza). Even Karolina (Kowalkiewicz), that’s what (Dominick) Cruz wanted. Those three.
“Even Joanna (Jedrzejczyk), I would love to fight Joanna. Any of those names really sound like interesting fights to me. We’ll just have to kinda see what we can do as far as negotiating those fights and where each one of those will take us.”
The fight with VanZant came after a 17-month layoff for Waterson, a former Invicta FC atomweight champion. She also discussed her pay, which shocked many when it was revealed by the California Athletic Commission at $15,000 to show and another $15,000 to win.
“It is a little embarrassing,” Waterson said. “But we’re going to fix it. I hope so. I hope they know what they have in me, because I’m not going out there just to cruise. I’m here for the UFC, to represent the UFC in the best light that I can, and hopefully they see the value in that.”
Michelle Waterson understands the game of MMA.
The “Karate Hottie” believes now is the time to cash-in following her submission win over Paige VanZant at UFC on FOX 22 this past weekend.
Waterson, in an interview with The MMA Hour, named several of the strawweight divisions elite – including the champion – as potential fights next.
“I really respect Rose (Namajunas), I think she’s a great person,” Waterson said. “I think it would be an awesome matchup. (Daniel Cormier) was wanting me to call out Carla (Esparza). Even Karolina (Kowalkiewicz), that’s what (Dominick) Cruz wanted. Those three.
“Even Joanna (Jedrzejczyk), I would love to fight Joanna. Any of those names really sound like interesting fights to me. We’ll just have to kinda see what we can do as far as negotiating those fights and where each one of those will take us.”
The fight with VanZant came after a 17-month layoff for Waterson, a former Invicta FC atomweight champion. She also discussed her pay, which shocked many when it was revealed by the California Athletic Commission at $15,000 to show and another $15,000 to win.
“It is a little embarrassing,” Waterson said. “But we’re going to fix it. I hope so. I hope they know what they have in me, because I’m not going out there just to cruise. I’m here for the UFC, to represent the UFC in the best light that I can, and hopefully they see the value in that.”
Michelle Waterson won the biggest fight of her career last saturday. After defeating the much hyped Paige Vanzant in a shocking first round submission, the “karate hottie” was on top of the world. She had a big win, a big bonus, and her family there to boot. But as in true MMA fashion, the question on everyone’s lips was who she would fight next? Well there was one name we just found undeniable, and that name was Rose Namajunas.
What’s great about this fight is that these ladies are both vastly improved strikers with a wicked ground game. Although Rose Namajunas was momentarily derailed by Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 202 she’s very much still in the hunt; and with Waterson’s high profile victory against Paige last weekend you’ve got to think she’s now in the straw weight conversation. Rose delivered a polite but no nonsense call out to the former atom weight after the fight.
First off I want to congratulate @karatehottiemma on a SPECTACULAR performance! You showed tremendous growth and hunger as a fighter/mother/wife/cool person since knowing you so hats off to you! Secondly I want to acknowledge the messages I’ve been getting from my fans that this is the next matchup y’all want to see! Me too! Make it happen @danawhite@ufc
She’s right Dana, we all want to see it, make it happen! Coming from a 105lb weight class, Waterson is the smaller fighter, and although her jiu jitsu seems to be firing on all cylinders, Rose is a beast to get to the ground. Even if you get her there, she’s not exactly a Sage Northcutt, with 5 wins by submission (3 RNC, flying armbar, Kimura) the fights not exactly over. And with a nickname like “Thug Rose” Namajunas, what’s not to love?
By hook or by crook, this fight needs to happen, and hopefully fairly soon. Let us know what you think of this potential matchup, are you guys interested or is it a pass?
Namajunas posted on Instagram that she would like to face off against recent UFC on FOX 22 winner Michelle Waterson. Like Waterson, Namajunas holds a submission win over Paige VanZant.
A photo posted by Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) on Dec 18, 2016 at 12:03pm PST
Namajunas and Waterson both competed under the Invicta FC banner before the UFC created the strawweight division. Namajunas competed on The Ultimate Fighter, finishing as a runner-up, while Waterson waited to sign with the promotion after her run as Invicta FC atomweight champion ended.
The 24-year-old Namajunas (5-3) was defeated by Karolina Kowalkiewicz via split decision in a title-eliminator this past July, snapping her three-fight win streak. Waterson (14-4), who turns 31 in January, has won each of her two UFC appearances.
Rose Namajunas has her next opponent in mind.
Namajunas posted on Instagram that she would like to face off against recent UFC on FOX 22 winner Michelle Waterson. Like Waterson, Namajunas holds a submission win over Paige VanZant.
A photo posted by Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) on Dec 18, 2016 at 12:03pm PST
Namajunas and Waterson both competed under the Invicta FC banner before the UFC created the strawweight division. Namajunas competed on The Ultimate Fighter, finishing as a runner-up, while Waterson waited to sign with the promotion after her run as Invicta FC atomweight champion ended.
The 24-year-old Namajunas (5-3) was defeated by Karolina Kowalkiewicz via split decision in a title-eliminator this past July, snapping her three-fight win streak. Waterson (14-4), who turns 31 in January, has won each of her two UFC appearances.
Although she didn’t mention any specific names, Michelle Waterson said that she was interested in a big fight after her first round submission win over Paige VanZant in the main event of this past weekend’s (Dec. 17, 2016) UFC on FOX 22 from Sacramento, California. She may not have to mention any particular names, however,
Although she didn’t mention any specific names, Michelle Waterson said that she was interested in a big fight after her first round submission win over Paige VanZant in the main event of this past weekend’s (Dec. 17, 2016) UFC on FOX 22 from Sacramento, California.
She may not have to mention any particular names, however, as a certain fighter has expressed interest in a possible bout with her.
No. 4-ranked former title challenger “Thug” Rose Namajunas recently took to her official Instagram account to say that not only are the fans interested in seeing her battle “The Karate Hottie”, but that she is intrigued by the fight as well:
A photo posted by Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) on
Namajunas is coming off of a loss to Karolina Kowalkiewicz, who most recently challenged for the 115-pound strap, last July, but prior to that she had scored three consecutive victories over the likes of Angela Hill, VanZant and Tecia Torres.
Waterson, on the other hand, is now 2-0 inside of the Octagon with two submission victories.
Ahead of this month’s mega-UFC 205 pay-per-view, which kicks off UFC action in the state of New York with a card headlined by three UFC World Title bouts, relive the fight that earned Karolina Kowalkiewicz her UFC Women’…
https://youtu.be/YgeS9E9pWkE
Ahead of this month’s mega-UFC 205 pay-per-view, which kicks off UFC action in the state of New York with a card headlined by three UFC World Title bouts, relive the fight that earned Karolina Kowalkiewicz her UFC Women’s Strawweight Title shot, as her title eliminator bout with Rose Namajunas is the latest UFC 205 Free Fight offering.
Featured above is the complete UFC Women’s Strawweight title eliminator bout between Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Rose Namajunas, which is the most recent Octagon appearance from Karolina, who challenges Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 205 for the UFC World Title.
“Karolina Kowalkiewicz stopped rapidly rising Rose Namajunas in her tracks at UFC 201 to remain undefeated. Now, she brings her 10-0 professional record into the Octagon against strawweight champion and fellow Polish fighter Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 205.”
UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor takes place on Saturday, November 12th from the world-famous Madison Square Garden arena in New York City.
Join us here at MMANews.com on 11/12 for live round-by-round results coverage of the entire UFC 205 pay-per-view.
