UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje · Mar 30, 2019 · Women's Strawweight · Completed
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Age 40
Height 5' 3"
Reach 62.0"
Weight 115 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 40
Height 5' 3"
Reach 64.0"
Weight 115 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Michelle Waterson-Gomez
3.42 SLpM
46.0% Str. Acc.
4.25 SApM
48.0% Str. Def.
1.39 TD Avg
33.0% TD Acc.
69.0% TD Def.
0.6 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Karolina Kowalkiewicz
5.54 SLpM
42.0% Str. Acc.
5.77 SApM
56.0% Str. Def.
0.36 TD Avg
23.0% TD Acc.
74.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Michelle Waterson-Gomez - Fight History
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–26) R3 5:00 · UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 · Jun 29, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gillian Robertson 0 21 of 52 40% 41 of 75 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:19
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 77 of 105 73% 122 of 156 2 of 6 33% 2 0 12:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gillian Robertson 0 11 of 37 29% 15 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 27 of 43 62% 36 of 53 1 of 3 33% 0 0 3:23
2 Gillian Robertson 0 4 of 6 66% 13 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 27 of 31 87% 48 of 53 1 of 3 33% 1 0 4:49
3 Gillian Robertson 0 6 of 9 66% 13 of 17 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:19
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 23 of 31 74% 38 of 50 0 of 0 --- 1 0 4:22
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gillian Robertson 21 of 52 40% 19 of 48 1 of 3 1 of 1 9 of 37 3 of 4 9 of 11
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 77 of 105 73% 67 of 94 9 of 9 1 of 2 10 of 24 0 of 0 67 of 81
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gillian Robertson 11 of 37 29% 9 of 33 1 of 3 1 of 1 8 of 33 0 of 1 3 of 3
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 27 of 43 62% 23 of 39 3 of 3 1 of 1 8 of 19 0 of 0 19 of 24
2 Gillian Robertson 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 3 of 3 0 of 1
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 27 of 31 87% 22 of 26 5 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 26 of 30
3 Gillian Robertson 6 of 9 66% 6 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 7
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 23 of 31 74% 22 of 29 1 of 1 0 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 0 22 of 27
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Cody picks Robertson, citing her youth, grappling advantage, and recent improvements. He notes that Waterson is 38 and on a losing streak, and that her takedown defense has declined. Cody believes Robertson will take Waterson down and control the fight on the ground, possibly winning by submission or decision. He also mentions that Robertson has been working on her cardio and game planning.

"Robertson at some point's gonna get it to the ground for two of the three rounds and either wins a decision or maybe latches onto the neck and subs her."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Daniel believes Robertson's path is to get takedowns and maul Waterson on the ground, either by submission or ground-and-pound TKO. He notes Robertson holds the record for most submissions in women's UFC history. He sees Waterson's only path being keeping it standing or hitting a sneaky submission, but thinks Robertson will eventually get her down.

wins by submission or TKO
"I'm gonna go with Julian Robertson here to come through and possibly finish the karate hottie Michelle Waterson."
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)

The host does not discuss this fight at all in the transcript. The entire podcast is focused on the Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight, which is not on the provided fight card. Therefore, no pick is made for this fight.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

The host is confident Robertson will get a submission, citing her relentless grappling and ability to take the back. He notes Waterson-Gomez is on a four-fight losing streak and slowing down at 38. He expects Robertson to eventually secure a takedown and find a choke, recommending Robertson by submission as the best bet.

Robertson by submission
"Give me Jillian Robertson to get a submission over Michelle Waterson Gomez."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Paul picks Robertson, noting that Waterson is past her prime and has lost six of her last seven. He believes Robertson's grappling will be too much for Waterson, who has been submitted before. Paul also mentions that Robertson is younger and improving, while Waterson's best days are behind her.

"Give me the younger up-and-comer in Gillian Robertson who I see making improvements."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

The Guru picks Michelle Waterson-Gomez as an underdog over Gillian Robertson. He praises Waterson's takedown defense and striking, saying she is levels above Robertson on the feet. He doubts Robertson's ability to harm anyone standing. He expects Waterson to win by decision.

"I'm going to go with Michelle Waterson Gomez... Michelle Waterson shall win"
TKO (punches) R2 2:42 · UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Gamrot · Sep 23, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marina Rodriguez 0 70 of 102 68% 90 of 130 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:03
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 13 of 32 40% 16 of 37 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:49
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marina Rodriguez 0 51 of 75 68% 67 of 99 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:07
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 10 of 20 50% 13 of 25 1 of 5 20% 0 0 2:09
2 Marina Rodriguez 0 19 of 27 70% 23 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:56
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 3 of 12 25% 3 of 12 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:40
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marina Rodriguez 70 of 102 68% 47 of 70 22 of 30 1 of 2 12 of 23 53 of 73 5 of 6
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 13 of 32 40% 7 of 23 5 of 7 1 of 2 4 of 17 7 of 9 2 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marina Rodriguez 51 of 75 68% 38 of 56 13 of 19 0 of 0 6 of 13 45 of 62 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 10 of 20 50% 5 of 15 4 of 4 1 of 1 2 of 7 6 of 7 2 of 6
2 Marina Rodriguez 19 of 27 70% 9 of 14 9 of 11 1 of 2 6 of 10 8 of 11 5 of 6
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 3 of 12 25% 2 of 8 1 of 3 0 of 1 2 of 10 1 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Sep 17, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

Angelo trusts Marina slightly more to push the action and keep her boxing in Michelle's face. He notes Michelle has more dynamic striking and experience but is inconsistent. He thinks the fight likely goes to decision and suggests betting over 2.5 rounds.

over 2.5 rounds, potentially plus 3.5 on Michelle
"I trust Marina just to smidge more in this matchup to push the action keep her boxing in Michelle's face"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

Big Brady picks Marina Rodriguez confidently, expecting a decision win. He notes Rodriguez is the better striker with power, while Waterson-Gomez has zero power and relies on volume. He thinks the fight will stay standing and Rodriguez will do more damage. He mentions Waterson-Gomez could try takedowns but doubts she will. He calls the rematch unnecessary.

"give me a give me Rodriguez here to win this fight and win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

Cody picks Marina Rodriguez by decision, expecting a similar outcome to their first fight. He notes Rodriguez's size, output, and ability to stuff takedowns, while Waterson has declined and struggles to implement her grappling. He sees no significant improvements from Waterson and believes Rodriguez will outwork her again.

"I'm sure I'm using too many words on this fight at this point so let's just go ahead and call it a marina Rodriguez by decision."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

Daniel is confident Rodriguez wins, citing her massive volume and reach advantage on the feet. He rewatched their first fight and saw Rodriguez dominate until getting taken down in round 4. He believes if Rodriguez avoids extended time on bottom, she will out-strike Waterson decisively. He notes Waterson's low output and age (37) as concerns, and thinks Rodriguez covers the -300 line.

considers laying -300 straight; mentions -3.5 point spread as an option
"I think Marina Rodriguez is going to double her up on strikes for at least two of the rounds and hold on for deer life in that one round that she does get taken down I think she covers this …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

Lucrative James is confident Rodriguez will win, calling Waterson washed and not good on the ground. He thinks Rodriguez will piece her up and sees value at -300, estimating her true probability at 85%. He also considers betting the under or Rodriguez by KO, but is wary of recent losses on women's unders.

under 2.5 rounds +260 considered; Rodriguez KO considered
"Marina Rodriguez gonna beat her up... she's a clear favorite in this spot."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

The host picks Rodriguez at minus 300, expecting a repeat of their first fight where Rodriguez battered Waterson-Gomez on the feet. He notes Waterson-Gomez's underrated BJJ but poor wrestling to get the fight down, and that Rodriguez's takedown defense and clinch work (knees, elbows) will keep it standing. He acknowledges both are on losing streaks but sees Rodriguez as the younger, more powerful striker who wins by decision.

"give me Rodriguez and I think she wins this fight by decision and a minus 300 but the line makes sense"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

Paul agrees with Rodriguez, but won't bet at -300. He likes Rodriguez's over 70.5 significant strikes on PrizePicks, noting she landed 78 in the first fight. He thinks Waterson's takedown threat is minimal and Rodriguez will out-strike her again.

Over 70.5 significant strikes for Rodriguez on PrizePicks.
"I like Rodriguez but you know me I'm never getting to a minus 300. the CF dog just tells me to pass... I'll take a little sprinkle on some of my prize picks entries on Rodriguez over uh 70.5 significant …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

The MMA Guru confidently picks Marina Rodriguez, noting she already beat Michelle Waterson in their first fight, winning 4-1 on rounds. He criticizes Waterson's three-fight losing streak and questions the rematch. He defends Rodriguez's loss to Amanda Lemos as an early stoppage and praises her grappling awareness against Mackenzie Dern. He believes Rodriguez's striking and overall game are clearly superior.

"Rodriguez here... Marina Rodriguez is going to win she lost to Amanda Lemos by early stoppage it was an early stoppage 100..."
LOSS vs Luana Pinheiro
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2 · Apr 08, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luana Pinheiro 0 61 of 188 32% 70 of 199 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:01
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 44 of 122 36% 48 of 132 0 of 5 0% 0 0 1:25
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luana Pinheiro 0 20 of 67 29% 20 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 15 of 43 34% 15 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
2 Luana Pinheiro 0 19 of 62 30% 22 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 19 of 50 38% 20 of 55 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:47
3 Luana Pinheiro 0 22 of 59 37% 28 of 67 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:01
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 10 of 29 34% 13 of 34 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luana Pinheiro 61 of 188 32% 18 of 114 16 of 34 27 of 40 53 of 178 8 of 10 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 44 of 122 36% 16 of 79 15 of 21 13 of 22 38 of 109 6 of 13 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luana Pinheiro 20 of 67 29% 5 of 39 4 of 11 11 of 17 20 of 67 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 15 of 43 34% 5 of 29 4 of 6 6 of 8 14 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Luana Pinheiro 19 of 62 30% 9 of 43 4 of 7 6 of 12 18 of 59 1 of 3 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 19 of 50 38% 9 of 34 5 of 7 5 of 9 15 of 42 4 of 8 0 of 0
3 Luana Pinheiro 22 of 59 37% 4 of 32 8 of 16 10 of 11 15 of 52 7 of 7 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 10 of 29 34% 2 of 16 6 of 8 2 of 5 9 of 25 1 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Angelo picks Luana Pinheiro but with low confidence, citing age and career trajectory. He notes that Luana is a powerful striker with solid takedowns, but Michelle Waterson has veteran savvy and is the better overall striker. He is concerned about Luana coming off major knee surgery, which could affect her athleticism. He thinks Michelle is very live as an underdog.

"Luana should win right luana's got great wrestling"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Apr 3, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Big Brady picks Michelle Waterson-Gomez as an underdog, citing the massive step down in competition for Waterson. He notes that Pinheiro has a strong judo and early power but fades as the fight goes on. He believes Waterson's striking and experience will allow her to take over in later rounds. He is hesitant due to Waterson's age (37) but sees value.

"I will take Michelle Waterson Gomez to pull off the upset here and win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Cody picks Waterson as a value play. He thinks the fight is closer to 50-50 than the line suggests, so he sides with the plus money. He notes Pinheiro hasn't proven much and her DQ win over Randa Marcos was unimpressive. However, he doesn't love the pick and says he probably won't bet it. He acknowledges Waterson is at the end of her career.

"I'll side with what I think there's a value side in Michelle Crotty the karate hottie uh Waterson at plus 140 but don't love it"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Waterson. He notes that Pinheiro is raw and that Waterson is a competent, tough, high-level fighter who knows how to win. Connor also mentions that Pinheiro's potential hasn't been realized yet.

"I guess I'll side with you and take Watterson here."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Jacob flips to Michelle Waterson after film study, noting that Luana's takedowns are almost all Judo headlock throws that work against lower-level opponents. He believes Michelle's experience and superior striking will allow her to stay out of the clinch and dominate. He also points out that Luana is coming off major knee surgery, which could be a factor.

"I flip completely I think Michelle Waterson can dominate this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Apr 3, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Waterson-Gomez is a veteran with good movement, kicks, and underrated grappling. Pinheiro has power and a strong top game but questionable cardio and competition level. I think Waterson's experience and ability to stay at range will wear on Pinheiro's gas tank, leading to a decision win. However, I lack high confidence because Pinheiro could land effective damage early.

"I'm going to lean with the experience and the veteran Savvy of a girl like or a woman like Michelle Waterson Gomez and I think she wins this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Paul picks Pinheiro but is hesitant. He notes Pinheiro is younger, stronger, and has better wrestling and power. He thinks Pinheiro can take Waterson down and win rounds. However, he acknowledges Waterson's experience and fan-friendly style could lead to a close split decision in Florida. Paul says this is a low-confidence pick and not a top play.

"I will take Pinero it is I'm gonna put it way down the list this week"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2023 (fight day)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

The MMA Guru picks Michelle Waterson to win by 29-28 decision. He describes it as a 'snooze fest' where Waterson will use fight IQ to secure a takedown at the end of each round, stealing the rounds on the scorecards. He expects a close fight with little action, but Waterson's experience and late-round takedowns will be the difference.

"I'm gonna go with Michelle Waterson doing that"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Zane picks Waterson because she is a crafty veteran who can stay tight and technical, taking Pinheiro off her feet with takedowns. He notes that Pinheiro's game is raw and she doesn't have a great top game or method to get ground and pound. Zane also mentions that Waterson is tough to knock out and has good reactive shots.

"I'm definitely going to take Watterson with the toughness and the grappling to just find ways of not having to have a physical fight with Piniero on the feet."
LOSS vs Amanda Lemos
Submission (guillotine choke) R2 1:48 · UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodriguez · Jul 16, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Amanda Lemos 0 29 of 56 51% 35 of 62 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:08
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 20 of 35 57% 20 of 35 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Amanda Lemos 0 16 of 36 44% 22 of 42 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:53
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 13 of 23 56% 13 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:05
2 Amanda Lemos 0 13 of 20 65% 13 of 20 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 7 of 12 58% 7 of 12 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Amanda Lemos 29 of 56 51% 7 of 24 7 of 10 15 of 22 27 of 54 0 of 0 2 of 2
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 20 of 35 57% 11 of 23 3 of 5 6 of 7 20 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Amanda Lemos 16 of 36 44% 5 of 17 2 of 4 9 of 15 14 of 34 0 of 0 2 of 2
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 13 of 23 56% 6 of 13 1 of 3 6 of 7 13 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Amanda Lemos 13 of 20 65% 2 of 7 5 of 6 6 of 7 13 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 7 of 12 58% 5 of 10 2 of 2 0 of 0 7 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Amanda Lemos

Angelo picks Amanda Lemos, citing her power, takedown defense, and volume. He believes Waterson's stick-and-move style won't be enough, as she failed against Marina Rodriguez. He suggests Lemos is safe for parlays.

suggests Lemos for parlays
"limos is the pick and she is honestly probably safe to throw into some parlays"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Amanda Lemos

Big Brady picks Amanda Lemos to win by decision. He notes that Lemos is the biggest favorite on the card and should land the harder shots with higher volume. He expresses concern about Lemos's cardio, as she has slowed down in past fights, but thinks she can outwork Waterson over three rounds. He also mentions that if the fight is at flyweight, it favors Lemos even more. He does not recommend betting at -300 odds.

decision win; odds comment: minus 300 too high
"i like lamosh here um you know she's going to be laying the harder shots here i think she's going to have the higher volume as well"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 13, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Cody sees Waterson as a clear underdog value, noting she has never been knocked out and has gone the distance with elite competition. He points out that Lemos' wins are over lower-level opponents and that Waterson's mobility and conditioning will allow her to outpoint Lemos. He also mentions Waterson's recent shape from The Challenge and her plus 270 price.

Waterson by decision (plus 500), Waterson moneyline
"it's like the most clear like dogger pass i've seen in a while the water price tag waterson's never been knocked out"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Amanda Lemos

Daniel Levi leans Amanda Lemos but is not confident due to the high price. He notes Lemos has power that can overcome Waterson's technique, but Waterson has opportunistic submissions and cardio advantages late. He sees Lemos winning early via impact, but considers it a dog-or-pass situation and won't lay the heavy chalk.

dog-or-pass; not laying the price
"i lean with amanda leimos but you know i'm not crazy about laying a price like that on her"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 13, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Paul argues that Lemos' competition has been weak and that Waterson has fought a higher level of opposition, including five-round fights. He notes Waterson's durability and ability to make fights close, and believes the fight will go to decision with Waterson winning a close one. He also mentions that Lemos' power is her only real threat, but Waterson's chin and cardio should hold up.

Waterson by decision, Waterson moneyline
"i think watterson wins by decision i just think that at plus 270 i think there's enough meat on the bone there anyway that i don't have to get tricky with it"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 11, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Amanda Lemos

The MMA Guru picks Amanda Lemos over Michelle Waterson, emphasizing Lemos's power advantage. He notes Waterson's struggles against power punchers like Marina Rodriguez and her age (36) and accumulated damage. He predicts Lemos will hurt Waterson early and win the first two rounds, with Waterson possibly rallying in the third.

"i'm going to be going with amanda lemos over michelle waterson she's just got a bit of a power difference"
Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 49–46, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson · May 08, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marina Rodriguez 0 125 of 282 44% 144 of 304 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:51
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 88 of 205 42% 100 of 222 1 of 5 20% 0 0 3:54
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marina Rodriguez 0 21 of 51 41% 21 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 13 of 37 35% 14 of 38 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
2 Marina Rodriguez 0 27 of 63 42% 29 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:43
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 18 of 40 45% 21 of 43 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:03
3 Marina Rodriguez 0 38 of 78 48% 40 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 21 of 43 48% 21 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
4 Marina Rodriguez 0 7 of 22 31% 22 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 14 of 24 58% 22 of 36 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:14
5 Marina Rodriguez 0 32 of 68 47% 32 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 22 of 61 36% 22 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marina Rodriguez 125 of 282 44% 60 of 188 28 of 41 37 of 53 106 of 256 19 of 26 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 88 of 205 42% 43 of 129 25 of 38 20 of 38 74 of 182 7 of 12 7 of 11
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marina Rodriguez 21 of 51 41% 9 of 31 4 of 8 8 of 12 17 of 46 4 of 5 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 13 of 37 35% 6 of 18 5 of 9 2 of 10 13 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Marina Rodriguez 27 of 63 42% 12 of 39 6 of 8 9 of 16 20 of 53 7 of 10 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 18 of 40 45% 8 of 26 5 of 7 5 of 7 15 of 34 3 of 6 0 of 0
3 Marina Rodriguez 38 of 78 48% 25 of 59 7 of 10 6 of 9 31 of 68 7 of 10 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 21 of 43 48% 9 of 24 6 of 8 6 of 11 18 of 38 3 of 5 0 of 0
4 Marina Rodriguez 7 of 22 31% 1 of 15 1 of 1 5 of 6 7 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 14 of 24 58% 10 of 19 2 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 12 1 of 1 7 of 11
5 Marina Rodriguez 32 of 68 47% 13 of 44 10 of 14 9 of 10 31 of 67 1 of 1 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 22 of 61 36% 10 of 42 7 of 11 5 of 8 22 of 61 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 6, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

Big Brady likes Rodriguez's striking advantage and size at flyweight, but is concerned about her poor takedown defense (59%). He notes Waterson will likely get takedowns but Rodriguez is dangerous off her back, landing elbows and strikes. Brady thinks the five-round fight favors Rodriguez, as she has more time to land damaging shots. He predicts a decision win for Rodriguez, but says the ground game scares him and he wants to see weigh-ins first. He might consider a parlay but is not fully confident.

Rodriguez by decision
"I'm going to take rodriguez to win i'm going to take her to win by decision minus 200 um i don't know i kind of i want to see weigh-ins first."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked May 7, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

Cody picks Rodriguez but is not confident due to the high price tag of 9200 on DraftKings. He notes Rodriguez's size and reach advantage, and her ability to trap Waterson as the fight progresses. However, he acknowledges Waterson's path to victory through lateral movement and point fighting, and recommends hedging lineups evenly because the value on Waterson is tempting. He sees Rodriguez's win as likely but not a lock, and suggests it's okay to leave this fight out of some lineups.

Cody mentions DraftKings pricing: Rodriguez at 9200, Waterson at 7000. He recommends a 3-4 out of 10 hedge weight on Rodriguez, keeping lineups even. He also notes a possible late finish for Rodriguez via referee stoppage due to damage.
"I still don't like the price tag at 9 200 but i am picking rodriguez to win this fight"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 6, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Marina Rodriguez

Daniel Levi picks Marina Rodriguez, citing her one-punch knockout power and superior striking. He acknowledges Michelle Waterson's judo throws and takedown ability but believes Rodriguez will win most stand-up exchanges. He worries about Rodriguez's takedown defense and get-up game, but thinks she can avoid being taken down for three rounds. He expects Rodriguez to piece Waterson up and win a decision or late finish.

"i think that marina rodriguez she's fantastic it's just can can we like work on our wrestling this much like like why"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 7, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

The host picks Michelle Waterson as a live underdog, citing her underrated wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and cardio. He believes she can avoid Rodriguez's power early and then take over with takedowns and submissions in later rounds. He likes Waterson by submission and under 4.5 rounds props.

Waterson by submission +800, under 4.5 rounds +185
"i'm taking watterson in the spot and i think she'll snatch up that submission in the third or fourth round"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 3, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

The MMA Guru picks Michelle Waterson over Marina Rodriguez, citing Rodriguez's tendency to gas out in three-round fights and her lack of five-round experience. He notes Waterson has five-round experience and will use her kicks to stay at range, winning rounds three through five. He also mentions Rodriguez is taking the fight on short notice and cutting weight, which favors Waterson.

unanimous decision, 48-47
"i'm picking michelle waterson to win this one unanimous decision based on the third fourth and fifth round"
WIN vs Angela Hill
Decision (split) (47–48, 49–46, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill · Sep 12, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 128 of 324 39% 162 of 361 1 of 18 5% 0 0 4:03
Angela Hill 0 131 of 261 50% 146 of 278 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 21 of 57 36% 27 of 63 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:15
Angela Hill 0 26 of 56 46% 30 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:50
2 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 31 of 78 39% 33 of 80 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:03
Angela Hill 0 33 of 62 53% 35 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
3 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 13 of 34 38% 36 of 60 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:30
Angela Hill 0 11 of 22 50% 18 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 26 of 58 44% 29 of 61 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:15
Angela Hill 0 22 of 46 47% 24 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:42
5 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 37 of 97 38% 37 of 97 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Angela Hill 0 39 of 75 52% 39 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 128 of 324 39% 65 of 234 40 of 59 23 of 31 110 of 300 13 of 17 5 of 7
Angela Hill 131 of 261 50% 82 of 194 45 of 63 4 of 4 105 of 231 25 of 29 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 21 of 57 36% 7 of 39 5 of 6 9 of 12 18 of 53 3 of 4 0 of 0
Angela Hill 26 of 56 46% 14 of 44 11 of 11 1 of 1 20 of 49 6 of 7 0 of 0
2 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 31 of 78 39% 16 of 56 9 of 16 6 of 6 25 of 72 6 of 6 0 of 0
Angela Hill 33 of 62 53% 20 of 47 12 of 14 1 of 1 28 of 56 5 of 6 0 of 0
3 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 13 of 34 38% 9 of 30 3 of 3 1 of 1 8 of 27 0 of 0 5 of 7
Angela Hill 11 of 22 50% 9 of 19 2 of 3 0 of 0 10 of 21 0 of 0 1 of 1
4 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 26 of 58 44% 14 of 40 9 of 12 3 of 6 24 of 54 2 of 4 0 of 0
Angela Hill 22 of 46 47% 13 of 32 8 of 13 1 of 1 18 of 41 4 of 5 0 of 0
5 Michelle Waterson-Gomez 37 of 97 38% 19 of 69 14 of 22 4 of 6 35 of 94 2 of 3 0 of 0
Angela Hill 39 of 75 52% 26 of 52 12 of 22 1 of 1 29 of 64 10 of 11 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michelle Waterson vs. Angela Hill

Round 1
On short notice, “The Karate Hottie” Waterson (17-8, 5-4 UFC) and “Overkill” Hill (12-8, 7-8 UFC) have elected to throw down for five full rounds at strawweight instead of the customary three for a short-notice headliner replacement bout. These two strikers both measuring at five-foot-three are ready for action, and referee Marc Goddard may have his hands full keeping up with this marquee matchup. They touch gloves, and Waterson backs off to open with a kick. It is well off the mark, as is the one that follows. Hill crowds her with a right hand that gets blocked, and she swings a few more but the strikes are ducked by Waterson. “The Karate Hottie” changes levels low for a takedown, and Hill stuffs it with relative ease. Hill clips her with a few punches, and she grabs a leg and thinks about tossing Waterson down but instead elects to crack Waterson on the jaw with an overhand right. Waterson kicks the lead leg and Hill comes back with a big left hand. Waterson clinches up to try to change levels, but opts for a body lock and bails on that too to elbow Hill on the chin. Hill comes out firing, and a few of her strikes bring out a smile from Waterson. Hill clicks a right hand off the dome, and her front kick pushes Waterson back from getting off a left hook. Another right finds its home on Waterson’s face, and she paws at the spot out of concern there was some early damage. There is some swelling on the right side of Waterson’s face already, and Hill continues to target that spot with left hands. Waterson circles out and lands on Hill, but Hill gives her one back. “The Karate Hottie” sells out for a takedown from a distance, but like before, Hill stands her up. Hill turns her against the fence, where she lands a few short punches before allowing a separation. A right hand from Hill has done additional damage to Waterson’s forehead, with a hematoma forming by Waterson’s temple. Waterson lands a hard kick, and she transitions into a takedown but is greeted with a knee up the middle. Hill stings her with a left hand to make Waterson bounce off the fence, and she presses in to grind Waterson on the cage wall. Hill knees her in the midsection a few times until they separate, and Hill lands a teep kick to the body. One last kick from Hill ends the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hill
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Hill
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hill

Round 2
The second frame begins with Waterson using some of her karate, in the form of several kicks high and low followed by a right hand that gets Hill’s attention. Hill fires back, but she takes a body kick on the way in. Waterson keeps her backed off for a time with jabs, but Hill bites down on her mouthpiece and slings a right and left hook. Hill times a counter from kick, and she kicks the body two times to decent effect. Waterson tries to swing an overhand left, but Hill stops her in her tracks twice with stiff jabs. Waterson kicks up high to make an advancing Hill readjust, and Hill eats a right hand and misses on her own counter. A high kick and subsequent body kick from Hill get blocked, and the two land jabs at the same time. Waterson gets off a right hand, but Hill hurts her with a fierce right hand that buckles the knees for a moment. Hill does not attack in a blitz, and instead uses her power jab to snap Waterson’s head back. Waterson telegraphs a takedown but uses it to try to score a right hand, but Hill sees it coming and gets her guard up in time. Waterson throws a torrent of punches that each get blocked, but she gets off a leg kick that punctuates the combination. Waterson tries to grab her leg and take her down, but Hill stops it and turns her about before pushing away. Two hard punches from Waterson land, and Hill returns fire with a huge right hand. Waterson targets the body with a pair of kicks, and Hill cracks her with a left hook that backs Waterson away. “The Karate Hottie” blitzes forward with another stream of punches that do not succeed, and Hill stops the advancement with counters. Hill lets fly an elbow when they clinch up for a moment, and Hill tries to spin but Waterson pushes her away. An axe kick that misses from Waterson is the final strike throw in the second round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hill
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Hill
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hill

Round 3
Patiently walking towards one another, they start off the round with jabs. Hill gets one in and dances out of the way when Waterson tries to respond in kind. Hill catches her on the way in, and she lands another strike that makes Waterson backpedal. Hill follows with a head kick, but Waterson blocks it without issue. Waterson flings up her own kick, but she cannot connect with it. A big jab from Hill has busted up Waterson’s nose, and she comes out swinging. Hill steps up with a big knee up the middle, and Waterson’s eyes light up as she grabs it and bullies Hill down to the ground. Hill looks disgusted with herself for giving it up, as Waterson is in half guard and gets off a few punches. Hill ties up the arm to keep Waterson from doing much, and the blood is starting to pool from Waterson’s nose on the canvas. Waterson is not concerned as she tries to advance position, all while Hill drags her way to the cage. “The Karate Hottie” has her leg trapped so she cannot pass guard, and she is unable to posture up as Hill has her locked down. This forces Goddard to ask the fighters to work, so Waterson tries to get up and pass, but this allows Hill to get back up. Waterson uses the opportunity to take Hill’s back, and after a wild scramble, Waterson returns back to being on top in half guard. “The Karate Hottie” does not land much in the way of strikes, and is racking up control time while Hill tries and fails to kick her off. Hill flails with her legs and connects on Waterson’s chin with an upkick while Waterson is on her knee, and Goddard intervenes to check on Waterson. The clock does not stop, and instead the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Waterson
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Waterson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Waterson

Round 4
Hill begins with a leg kick, and she dodges a barrage of punches that speed past her head. When Hill over-extends with a few punches, Waterson tries to take the fight down. Hill lands a few punches, and Waterson throws right back at her before going after another takedown. Hill stuffs it and pushes “The Karate Hottie” back to the cage, where she lifts up a few knees before they separate. Hill ducks down with a left straight to the body, and she is out just out of range when Waterson throws a front kick to her midsection. They clash together and start swinging, and Hill’s punches appear to be coming at a slower velocity. Waterson kicks and counters the advancing Hill, and she connects with a left hand on the break. Waterson connects with an elbow on the inside as they crash together like waves in the ocean, and Hill rushes in to try to unload power punches but they do not find their mark. A big overhand right from Waterson collides with Hill’s cheek, and Hill tries to kick her away. Waterson kicks high and low, and when Hill counters, Waterson pursues a takedown. Hill stuffs it, so Waterson re-commits to it and cannot land this one either. Hill manages to keep her balance as she uses the fence to her advantage, although a knee on the break is too slow to reach the chin. Waterson jabs several times as Hill plods forward, and a solid side kick lands square on the midsection. Waterson flips up a head kick, and Hill eats it without giving anything back. Hill gets kicked on the chest by another side kick while coming forward, and as Waterson backs away, she surprises Hill with an axe kick. Hill continues to walk towards her opponent and presses her to the fence. Waterson manages to not only get a separation, but one last side kick finds its home as Hill charges at her when the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Waterson
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Waterson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Waterson

Round 5
Waterson lets out a shriek of joy as she starts out the round fired up, and two jabs are followed by a head kick. Hill walks through them, and Waterson keeps kicking up top. Hill tries to advance but gets pushed away with a high kick, and she stuffs the takedown that comes right after. Waterson utilizes another side kick to the torso, and Hill cannot block it. Hill sticks out a jab and just moves her head out of the way from a front kick. Hill lets fly a high kick of her own to catch Waterson off-guard. “The Karate Hottie” is now in full karate mode, with a spinning kick coming up short and several that make Hill think twice about walking forward. Hill tries to give her one high kick back but it is also shy of the mark, and two strikes from Waterson similarly hit nothing but air. Hill rushes in and swings, but Waterson ducks down to avoid the brunt of the strikes as she kicks Hill to the body. Hill lands a right hand, and Waterson comes back with several more ending with a body kick. Hill tries to clinch her up and land an elbow, but it just bounces off Waterson’s hair. The two both exchange at the same time, and Hill walks forward with a big right hand only to find Waterson waiting there to take her down. Hill stuffs it so Waterson lands a side kick. They both land jabs at the same time, and Hill stabs her toes on Waterson’s body. Hill strings together a few punches, and when Waterson comes back, Hill clips her with a left hand. Hill walks in and gets side kicked away, but she clamps down on her gumshield and cracks Waterson with a right hand. The kiais from Waterson are loud as she swings with everything she has left, and the two kick high and low in a frenzy. They initiate a clinch, and Hill empties her gas tank with knees and elbows that sting Waterson. Waterson gives it right back, and the two trade right until the bell. What a fight! The scorecards could be close on this one, but it most certainly did not disappoint. With this thriller in the books, we will see you next week for a huge fight night card with 14 fights booked at the moment.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hill (48-47 Hill)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Waterson (48-47 Waterson)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Waterson (48-47 Waterson)

The Official Result
Michelle Waterson def. Angela Hill via Split Decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 10, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Angela Hill

Big Brady picks Angela Hill, citing that she is on the rise while Waterson is trending down. He believes Hill has a significant advantage on the feet and has shown improvements in her ground game, which is Waterson's path to victory. He notes that Waterson is tough and has never been finished by strikes, but expects Hill to win by decision due to volume striking.

If the line gets closer to a pick'em, I'll definitely take a shot at Hill
"I'm gonna go with hill here and because i think that on the feet it's not even close"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Sep 11, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

The host believes Waterson is the better fighter overall, with superior jiu-jitsu and experience in five-round fights. He expects her to mix in takedowns and eventually secure a submission in the later rounds. However, he is concerned about her recent performance against Carla Esparza and wants a better price than +105. He likes the submission prop at +540.

Waterson by submission (+540); fourth round submission
"I'm gonna go with michelle waterson here i'm i think that she will be successful in getting this fight to the ground"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 7, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Angela Hill

The MMA Guru picks Angela Hill dominantly, criticizing Michelle Waterson for not throwing strikes with intent and calling her 'mom champ' annoying. He believes Hill is really good despite her record and should be a massive favorite. He expects Hill to chew up Waterson's legs, win every round, and possibly get a submission in the later rounds, predicting a third-round finish or unanimous decision.

Third round finish
"i'm gonna go with angela hill getting it done dominantly um i think she wins pretty much every round"
LOSS vs Carla Esparza
Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje · May 09, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Carla Esparza 0 45 of 103 43% 48 of 106 1 of 10 10% 0 0 0:46
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 44 of 98 44% 44 of 98 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Carla Esparza 0 5 of 18 27% 7 of 20 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:35
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 9 of 28 32% 9 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Carla Esparza 0 15 of 31 48% 16 of 32 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 13 of 26 50% 13 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Carla Esparza 0 25 of 54 46% 25 of 54 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:11
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 22 of 44 50% 22 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Carla Esparza 45 of 103 43% 34 of 88 6 of 8 5 of 7 39 of 94 5 of 8 1 of 1
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 44 of 98 44% 15 of 60 13 of 16 16 of 22 39 of 92 5 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Carla Esparza 5 of 18 27% 3 of 14 1 of 2 1 of 2 4 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 1
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 9 of 28 32% 4 of 18 2 of 3 3 of 7 9 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Carla Esparza 15 of 31 48% 13 of 28 1 of 1 1 of 2 14 of 30 1 of 1 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 13 of 26 50% 3 of 15 4 of 4 6 of 7 10 of 22 3 of 4 0 of 0
3 Carla Esparza 25 of 54 46% 18 of 46 4 of 5 3 of 3 21 of 47 4 of 7 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 22 of 44 50% 8 of 27 7 of 9 7 of 8 20 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2020 (9 days before fight)
Carla Esparza

Big Brady picks Carla Esparza, expecting her to secure takedowns and control Waterson, swaying judges in close rounds. He notes Esparza's improving striking but gives Waterson the edge on the feet. He predicts a very close decision win for Esparza.

"I like Asparza here just for the fact that I think she can go out here and get takedowns in a close fight."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 5, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Daniel Levi leans towards Michelle Waterson, believing the fight should be a pick'em and thus taking the underdog. He notes Waterson's underrated wrestling, sidekicks, and head-and-arm throw, and thinks she can frustrate Esparza on the outside. Levi acknowledges Esparza's improved boxing but sees Waterson as having more tricks and being undervalued.

"I'm gonna go with the underdog here man i'ma go at karate hottie I think that she's got more tricks up her sleeve"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 6, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Carla Esparza

Matt leans Esparza, believing she can get takedowns at will and grind out a decision. He notes her improving striking and submission defense, but worries about Waterson's submissions off her back. He considers Esparza a potential lock but is not pulling the trigger at -164, preferring to wait for better spots.

Carla Esparza by decision
"I'm still leaning Carlos far as a here I'm gonna say caller does eventually grind her out"
Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson · Oct 12, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 0 180 of 300 60% 226 of 347 3 of 5 60% 1 0 5:34
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 58 of 160 36% 71 of 174 1 of 9 11% 1 0 4:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 0 31 of 39 79% 52 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:13
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 11 of 26 42% 17 of 33 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:14
2 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 0 34 of 64 53% 43 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:43
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 15 of 38 39% 19 of 42 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:01
3 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 0 36 of 56 64% 36 of 56 2 of 2 100% 1 0 0:37
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 7 of 29 24% 8 of 30 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:57
4 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 0 46 of 78 58% 50 of 82 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:18
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 12 of 38 31% 14 of 40 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:22
5 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 0 33 of 63 52% 45 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:43
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 13 of 29 44% 13 of 29 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:24
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 180 of 300 60% 48 of 136 54 of 74 78 of 90 132 of 246 48 of 54 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 58 of 160 36% 25 of 84 12 of 40 21 of 36 44 of 141 14 of 19 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 31 of 39 79% 8 of 13 17 of 19 6 of 7 11 of 16 20 of 23 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 11 of 26 42% 7 of 18 3 of 5 1 of 3 3 of 16 8 of 10 0 of 0
2 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 34 of 64 53% 4 of 25 9 of 14 21 of 25 26 of 55 8 of 9 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 15 of 38 39% 7 of 22 3 of 7 5 of 9 12 of 35 3 of 3 0 of 0
3 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 36 of 56 64% 7 of 20 9 of 13 20 of 23 35 of 55 1 of 1 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 7 of 29 24% 2 of 13 2 of 8 3 of 8 7 of 28 0 of 1 0 of 0
4 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 46 of 78 58% 15 of 41 10 of 14 21 of 23 33 of 64 13 of 14 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 12 of 38 31% 5 of 16 4 of 17 3 of 5 10 of 35 2 of 3 0 of 0
5 Joanna Jędrzejczyk 33 of 63 52% 14 of 37 9 of 14 10 of 12 27 of 56 6 of 7 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 13 of 29 44% 4 of 15 0 of 3 9 of 11 12 of 27 1 of 2 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz - Fight History
LOSS vs Julia Polastri
KO R3 2:56 · UFC Fight Night: Oliveira vs. Gamrot · Oct 11, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julia Polastri 0 137 of 253 54% 142 of 261 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:46
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 72 of 192 37% 75 of 196 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julia Polastri 0 53 of 93 56% 58 of 101 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:46
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 22 of 61 36% 25 of 64 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Julia Polastri 0 46 of 96 47% 46 of 96 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 30 of 68 44% 30 of 69 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:31
3 Julia Polastri 0 38 of 64 59% 38 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 20 of 63 31% 20 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julia Polastri 137 of 253 54% 85 of 193 42 of 49 10 of 11 123 of 233 14 of 20 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 72 of 192 37% 24 of 121 36 of 57 12 of 14 71 of 189 1 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julia Polastri 53 of 93 56% 31 of 67 17 of 20 5 of 6 43 of 80 10 of 13 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 22 of 61 36% 7 of 40 13 of 18 2 of 3 21 of 60 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Julia Polastri 46 of 96 47% 29 of 79 14 of 14 3 of 3 42 of 89 4 of 7 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 30 of 68 44% 7 of 32 16 of 29 7 of 7 30 of 66 0 of 2 0 of 0
3 Julia Polastri 38 of 64 59% 25 of 47 11 of 15 2 of 2 38 of 64 0 of 0 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 20 of 63 31% 10 of 49 7 of 10 3 of 4 20 of 63 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Julia Polastri
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Polastri (-450), Kowalkiewicz (+350)

Round 1
Strawweights take center stage as the prelims roll on. With a 12-year youth advantage on her side, a win for Polastri (13-5, 1-2 UFC) would lead her to a .500 record in the Octagon while dumping Kowalkiewicz (16-9, 9-9 UFC) below that threshold. A chasm of high-level experience separates the two, but it is “Psycho” who will serve as a significant betting favorite. The two ladies will be joined in the cage by referee Marc Goddard, who clocks them in as they clap hands.
Kowalkiewicz takes right to the center of the cage, and as booming chants of “Uh Vai Morrer” rain down, Polastri flashes a wry grin. The ladies toss out low kicks, and Kowalkiewicz strings together a combination ending with a left hand. Polastri resets and pitches a leg kick, only for Kowalkiewicz to counter over the top. Kowalkiewicz rips a body kick in the midst of her strike combos, and Polastri is not a fan and fires back with one much heavier. The former title challenger grimaces from the strike to her midsection, and Polastri explodes into a flurry of punches and kicks. Kowalkiewicz protects herself against the wire, and she smiles when Polastri peels back. The smile quickly turns to a frown when Polastri drives a knee home to the body, but she is able to back off and shake it off. Kowalkiewicz throws a kick, changes stances and works the body. Kowalkiewicz slips a punch and connects with a right, and she takes a few on the chin to hit the Brazilian back.
Kowalkiewicz spins with a back fist, and it collides into the guard but she is not far enough away to avoid counters. Kowalkiewicz thinks about a trip takedown when catching one of Polastri’s kicks, but she lets the limb down where there is nothing to it. Polastri again tries to tie up the Polish woman, where she spams knees to what might be an already compromised midsection. Polastri goes over the top with an elbow, and she uses her weight to press Kowalkiewicz on the fencing. Kowalkiewicz gives her back a few knees and elbows to think about, forcing a break. Kowalkiewicz whiffs on the subsequent spinning back fist. A front kick from her does split the guard, and any cheers from her corner are completely drowned out from the chants of the crowd. They trade heavy blows while standing right in the pocket, with Polastri appearing to have the power advantage and the superior speed too. Kowalkiewicz feebly spins when under fire, and Polastri lays into her with an onslaught of punches that knock the former KSW fighter into the wall. As Polastri keeps connecting, the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Polastri
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Polastri
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Polastri

Round 2
They clap hands again to start off the second stanza, and some swelling has developed under Kowalkiewicz’ right eye. She pays it no mind as Polastri comes right at her throwing caution to the wind. Kowalkiewicz tries to take her off her feet with a takedown attempt, but Polastri shuts it down and punches her square in the face. Kowalkiewicz meanders forward to grapple again, and Polastri’s intercepting knee and uppercut shut that down. Polastri senses that Kowalkiewicz is struggling, and she walks her foe down and beats on her relentlessly. Kowalkiewicz bounds off the fence to reset, and Polastri drops her hands and takes several deep breaths to get her wind back from going all-out. Kowalkiewicz is tough as nails, and she takes advantage of this opening with distant strikes. Once Polastri is ready to engage again, she raises her hands and cracks the Polish woman. Polastri fearlessly approaches her opponent, even with her energy reserves far from full, and she welcomes striking exchanges. Kowalkiewicz puts volume together as Polastri is looking for big power blows, and although Kowalkiewicz takes some on the chin, she evades the worst of the blows…until she doesn’t.
Totally unafraid of anything that comes back at her, Polastri connects with a flurry of punches and kicks that knock Kowalkiewicz back to the wall again. When Kowalkiewicz tries to get away, Polastri raises her arms in the air to further lather up the ravenous audience. Kowalkiewicz attempts a takedown, and Polastri takes longer to stop it but still manages to stonewall the former title challenger. Polastri flashes out a jab directly on the swollen cheek, and Kowalkiewicz kicks her back in the body. Polastri slaps her midsection, and she walks through the potshots of Kowalkiewicz to land heavy punches that bust open Kowalkiewicz’ nose. Kowalkiewicz spins with an elbow that bangs off the forehead, and Polastri energizes herself into one final assault before the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Polastri
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Polastri
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Polastri

Round 3
After 10 minutes of action, the strawweights come together in the center of the cage to hug it out. Polastri lands a single power strike, and Kowalkiewicz lets her have it with a long, effective flurry of fists and feet. Kowalkiewicz swings and ducks away to evade counters, and Polastri is still sporadically swinging for the bleachers. Kowalkiewicz sticks her foe with a short right hand, and she stuns the Brazilian for a second with another scooping uppercut. Polastri steels herself and boots Kowalkiewicz upside the head, and that only spurs Kowalkiewicz into more activity with a lengthy stretch of punches. Polastri connects with a hard body shot, and Kowalkiewicz’ body language and expression changes. Polastri digs several more strikes to the torso, and Kowalkiewicz bends over to try to take some of the sting out of them and has to actually sprint away to fully reset. Polastri walks her down like a Terminator, and her punches have developed more swelling and damage on Kowalkiewicz’ face.
With a full head of steam, Polastri steps in with a booming head kick that shakes up the ex-title challenger. Putting Kowalkiewicz’ on ice skates, Polastri marches forward and delivers a ruthless combination of punches to the head and body that have Kowalkiewicz in all sorts of trouble. With a couple minute still left on the clock, Polastri is cognizant that she does not want to punch herself out, but she knows that Kowalkiewicz is in trouble.
“Psycho” lets loose with all of her remaining energy, busting up Kowalkiewicz further and knocking her head around like a speed bag. As Kowalkiewicz is barely on her feet, possibly because the cage is behind her, Goddard intervenes to save the Polish woman from her toughness.
The crowd goes wild for the first Brazilian tonight to beat a foreign opponent, and Polastri hands Kowalkiewicz her second knockout loss—the first came from the mighty fist of Jessica Andrade. That is good company to be in.

The Official Result
Julia Polastri def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz R3 2:56 via TKO (Head Kick and Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 5, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Julia Polastri

Angelo leans towards Julia Polastri, citing her better striking, speed, and cleaner technique. He notes Karolina is too old and slowing down. However, he does not trust Julia enough at the current odds and prefers the over 2.5 rounds prop instead of the moneyline.

over 2.5 rounds
"I think Julia's a better striker. I think she's faster. She's cleaner. Because of that, I think she wins here. I do not trust her enough at these odds. But the over two and a half is good as gold."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Julia Polastri

Big Brady picks Julia Polastri, citing her youth (27 vs 39), and being better everywhere: striking, wrestling, and grappling. He expects Polastri to come forward landing bigger shots and win a decision in Brazil. He acknowledges Karolina is tough and has decent volume, but believes Polastri's advantages are clear.

"Pastri, I think she's just better everywhere, you know, especially at the both stages of their career."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Oct 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Julia Polastri

Cody picks Polastri but is not confident, noting Kowalkiewicz's experience and potential to make it close. He believes Polastri's youth and speed will be key, but expects a decision that could go either way. He suggests Polastri by decision.

decision
"I just can't pick Karolina but I will fully admit this is a lot closer to the CF dot model."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Julia Polastri

Lucrative James is very confident in Julia Polastri, citing Karolina Kowalkiewicz's age (turning 40) and lack of improvement. He believes Polastri is the better striker and grappler, and expects her to dominate. He notes that Kowalkiewicz is a striker and won't be able to wrestle effectively. He sees a finish as likely, pointing to Polastri's submission skills and the poor odds on the under 2.5 rounds (+334) and KO (+900) as value. He picks Polastri confidently.

under 2.5 rounds (+334), Julia Polastri by KO (+900), Julia Polastri by submission (+450)
"I side with the big favorite in this fight, boys. I side with Julia Palestri."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Julia Polastri

Manpreet is confident in Polastri, citing her youth, speed, and well-rounded game. He expects her to mix takedowns with striking and win a clear decision, as Kowalkiewicz is past her prime and on a losing streak. He doesn't mind the chalky odds.

Polastri by decision
"I don't mind Palatstri at chalky odds here. She's just in a far better place than Kowalkiewicz is in her career."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Oct 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Julia Polastri

Paul picks Polastri but is hesitant, calling it close to a 'CF dot model.' He notes Kowalkiewicz's age and 0-4 record against Brazilians, but expects a competitive decision. He suggests Polastri by decision.

decision
"I did end up taking her because with Karolina, if it wasn't the end her last fight, I think it's going to be the end this one."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 7, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Julia Polastri

The MMA Guru picks Julia Polastri over Karolina Kowalkiewicz, believing Kowalkiewicz is past her prime at nearly 40 and has looked poor recently. He notes Polastri has wins over decent competition and is fighting in Brazil. He predicts a decision win, likely 29-28.

over 2.5 total rounds (for prize picks)
"I'm going to trust in Julia Palastri to get this one done by decision. Maybe 30-27, maybe 2928."
LOSS vs Denise Gomes
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates · Nov 09, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Denise Gomes 0 46 of 98 46% 61 of 115 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:02
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 73 of 144 50% 91 of 166 0 of 3 0% 1 0 5:47
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Denise Gomes 0 7 of 16 43% 11 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 22 of 36 61% 32 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:11
2 Denise Gomes 0 13 of 31 41% 21 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 23 of 45 51% 28 of 52 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:15
3 Denise Gomes 0 26 of 51 50% 29 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:32
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 28 of 63 44% 31 of 68 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:21
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Denise Gomes 46 of 98 46% 16 of 57 19 of 24 11 of 17 39 of 89 7 of 9 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 73 of 144 50% 30 of 85 33 of 44 10 of 15 53 of 115 20 of 28 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Denise Gomes 7 of 16 43% 0 of 5 5 of 5 2 of 6 4 of 12 3 of 4 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 22 of 36 61% 8 of 17 12 of 15 2 of 4 12 of 25 10 of 11 0 of 0
2 Denise Gomes 13 of 31 41% 5 of 19 4 of 6 4 of 6 12 of 29 1 of 2 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 23 of 45 51% 9 of 24 9 of 15 5 of 6 18 of 36 5 of 9 0 of 0
3 Denise Gomes 26 of 51 50% 11 of 33 10 of 13 5 of 5 23 of 48 3 of 3 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 28 of 63 44% 13 of 44 12 of 14 3 of 5 23 of 54 5 of 8 0 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Denise Gomes

Big Brady sees Gomes as much younger, more powerful, and with grappling upside. He believes she can win on the feet or via takedowns. Despite the -500 line, he thinks Gomes gets her hand raised, likely by decision.

Gomes by decision
"give me GES here minus 500 it's absolutely ridiculous but at the end of the day I think she gets her hand raised and I think it's by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Denise Gomes

Cody disagrees with Paul, arguing that Kowalkiewicz's wrestling is not good enough to exploit Gomes' weakness. He notes that even when opponents wrestle Gomes, she still lands significant strikes. Cody believes Gomes' youth, power, and speed will overwhelm the 39-year-old Kowalkiewicz, likely by decision or knockout.

"I actually think that Denise Gomez probably knocks her out might knock her out but more than likely just wins a 29-28 fairly comfortably."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Connor picks Kowalkiewicz, assuming Gomes doesn't knock her out immediately. He thinks Kowalkiewicz's experience and grappling advantage will take over as Gomes fades. He notes the odds are too wide in favor of Gomes, who he considers not good and prone to mistakes.

Odds too wide; Gomes should not be such a heavy favorite.
"I'll take Kovalkiewicz and the assumption that Gomes doesn't knock her out immediately."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Denise Gomes

Daniel Vreeland picks Denise Gomes due to her youth, physicality, and momentum, contrasting with Karolina Kowalkiewicz's age (39) and decline. He notes Kowalkiewicz's past success but believes Gomes' power and aggressive style will be too much. However, he has zero interest in betting at -500 odds.

"I'm going with Denise, the age, the physicality, the momentum on her side, but I have zero interest in laying minus 500 on her."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Denise Gomes

Lucrative James picks Denise Gomes to win by knockout, citing her heavy power and Karolina's declining career trajectory. He believes Gomes will be too physical and that Kowalkiewicz won't be able to implement her game plan of volume and grappling. He expects a brutal knockout.

by KO
"I'm picking Denise Gomez here and I think she gets a knockout potentially a brutal knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Denise Gomes

Gomes is expected to control the striking with her power and possibly get some grappling success to win on the scorecards, similar to how Yasmin Lucindo beat Kowalkiewicz.

"look for Gomez to control the Striking round with the power that she possesses but maybe even get some grappling success of her own to get some control time and win this fight on the scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Paul is considering the underdog Kowalkiewicz at +390, noting that Gomes has shown takedown defense issues. He thinks if Kowalkiewicz can replicate her performance against Syana Gomez Warez, she could make it competitive. Paul admits it's a sucker bet but is tempted by the price.

"Karolina plus 390 is in consideration for me this week Cody and it's gross."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Denise Gomes

The Guru picks Denise Gomes, expecting a brutal assault. He notes Kowalkiewicz's age (39) and her scared reaction when hit. He believes Gomes is a big, physical fighter for the division and will get a TKO win.

TKO win
"I'm going with Denise Gomez getting this one done over kolina kovalovich by TKO"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Denise Gomes

Zane picks Gomes but is hesitant. He notes that Gomes has power and can knock out Kowalkiewicz early, but if she doesn't, she runs out of ideas and makes mistakes. He acknowledges Kowalkiewicz's grappling and backtake game could be a threat, but thinks Gomes' youth and power give her the edge.

"I think I'm going to pick Gomes though, still."
LOSS vs Iasmin Lucindo
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg · May 04, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Iasmin Lucindo 0 42 of 111 37% 47 of 119 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 83 of 136 61% 91 of 144 2 of 6 33% 0 0 5:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Iasmin Lucindo 0 7 of 18 38% 8 of 19 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 25 of 36 69% 31 of 42 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:48
2 Iasmin Lucindo 0 26 of 61 42% 26 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 38 of 72 52% 38 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Iasmin Lucindo 0 9 of 32 28% 13 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 20 of 28 71% 22 of 30 1 of 3 33% 0 0 3:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Iasmin Lucindo 42 of 111 37% 17 of 73 15 of 22 10 of 16 40 of 108 2 of 3 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 83 of 136 61% 53 of 100 23 of 28 7 of 8 57 of 105 13 of 18 13 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Iasmin Lucindo 7 of 18 38% 4 of 13 1 of 1 2 of 4 5 of 16 2 of 2 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 25 of 36 69% 18 of 28 6 of 7 1 of 1 9 of 17 9 of 12 7 of 7
2 Iasmin Lucindo 26 of 61 42% 9 of 38 11 of 13 6 of 10 26 of 61 0 of 0 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 38 of 72 52% 23 of 53 13 of 16 2 of 3 37 of 71 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Iasmin Lucindo 9 of 32 28% 4 of 22 3 of 8 2 of 2 9 of 31 0 of 1 0 of 0
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 20 of 28 71% 12 of 19 4 of 5 4 of 4 11 of 17 3 of 5 6 of 6
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Apr 28, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Iasmin Lucindo

Angelo picks Lucindo due to her youth and grappling advantage, but warns the odds are too rich. He notes that if Lucindo can't get takedowns, she's clueless on the feet and Kowalkiewicz could run away with it. He advises caution.

Angelo says 'the minus 330 odds they're just a little too rich for my blood'
"eisan lucendo is the pick but please be careful"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Iasmin Lucindo

Big Brady views Lucindo as a big step up in competition for Kowalkiewicz. He believes Lucindo is better everywhere, with power and takedown ability. He expects Lucindo to win a decision, controlling the fight wherever it goes.

"I'm going to go decision for Lucindo."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 1, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Iasmin Lucindo

Cody picks Lucindo, citing her youth, speed, wrestling advantage, and submission win. He notes Kowalkiewicz's recent wins are over lower-level competition and she's 38. Cody expects Lucindo to mix takedowns and win.

"I think lucendo can win on the feet but yeah mix in those takedowns..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked May 1, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Daniel Vreeland picks Kowalkiewicz by decision, citing her experience, volume striking, durability, and strength of schedule. He notes that Lucindo is young and talented but has never faced someone with Kowalkiewicz's level. He mentions Kowalkiewicz's recent four-fight win streak and improved confidence. He considers the decision prop as a potential value play.

Kowalkiewicz by decision
"I'm gonna go out on a limb I'm not confident but I'mma pick kolina kovak kavich"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 3, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Iasmin Lucindo

Lucindo is a 22-year-old at minus-400 odds, but stylistically she should be able to drag the fight into her realm with grappling and heavy top pressure. Kowalkiewicz has the striking advantage, but Lucindo has a great chin and ability to crash the pocket and change levels. Lucindo grinds out a decision win.

minus-400 odds
"look for lucino to utilize her grappling to grind out kovok kavich over 15 minutes to get her hand raised by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 1, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Iasmin Lucindo

Paul picks Lucindo, emphasizing her speed, power, and wrestling. He notes Kowalkiewicz is on a four-fight win streak but against weak opposition, and her takedown defense is suspect. Paul sees Lucindo as the future and expects her to win.

"Gotta go Lucindo... young hot Brazilian prospect in Brazil who's got legitimate skills..."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Iasmin Lucindo

The MMA Guru picks Iasmin Lucindo, citing her youth (22) and power advantage over the 38-year-old Kowalkiewicz. He notes Lucindo's win over Poana Viana and her ability to inflict damage, while questioning Kowalkiewicz's recent level of competition. He believes Lucindo's physicality and aggression will be decisive.

"Yasmin lendo wins"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green · Oct 07, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 141 of 267 52% 155 of 283 1 of 6 16% 0 1 2:15
Diana Belbiţă 0 99 of 261 37% 108 of 270 2 of 2 100% 0 1 0:53
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 39 of 74 52% 41 of 78 1 of 1 100% 0 1 1:12
Diana Belbiţă 0 35 of 83 42% 41 of 89 1 of 1 100% 0 1 0:13
2 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 41 of 76 53% 52 of 87 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:46
Diana Belbiţă 0 30 of 66 45% 33 of 69 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:40
3 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 61 of 117 52% 62 of 118 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
Diana Belbiţă 0 34 of 112 30% 34 of 112 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 141 of 267 52% 94 of 203 42 of 58 5 of 6 123 of 244 17 of 21 1 of 2
Diana Belbiţă 99 of 261 37% 57 of 199 33 of 50 9 of 12 85 of 241 13 of 18 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 39 of 74 52% 29 of 60 10 of 14 0 of 0 29 of 62 10 of 12 0 of 0
Diana Belbiţă 35 of 83 42% 21 of 64 11 of 14 3 of 5 25 of 70 10 of 13 0 of 0
2 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 41 of 76 53% 31 of 62 7 of 11 3 of 3 34 of 66 6 of 8 1 of 2
Diana Belbiţă 30 of 66 45% 18 of 49 10 of 15 2 of 2 26 of 60 3 of 4 1 of 2
3 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 61 of 117 52% 34 of 81 25 of 33 2 of 3 60 of 116 1 of 1 0 of 0
Diana Belbiţă 34 of 112 30% 18 of 86 12 of 21 4 of 5 34 of 111 0 of 1 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 3, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Big Brady picks Karolina Kowalkiewicz, noting her recent three-fight winning streak and that her previous losses came against elite competition. He believes Diana Belbiţă is a step down in competition and criticizes Belbiţă's losses to lower-tier fighters. He thinks Kowalkiewicz can have success with grappling, as Belbiţă has been taken down frequently. He predicts a decision win but is not in love with the price tag.

decision win for Karolina Kowalkiewicz
"give me Carolina kovak cavich to win this fight I'll take her to win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Cody picks Kowalkiewicz, citing her experience, resurgence, and superior grappling. He notes that Belbiţă has only fought low-level opponents and has poor takedown defense. Kowalkiewicz should be able to mix in takedowns and control the fight, likely winning a decision.

Kowalkiewicz by decision
"I gotta go with Carolyn colvikovich all day... that really does come down to the back class"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Oct 4, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Daniel Levi leans Karolina Kowalkiewicz, citing her historical level and recent confidence boost from a three-fight win streak. He notes her improved grappling and high output in her last fight. However, he acknowledges she is 37 and has had inconsistent performances, and that Diana Belbiţă has good striking volume. He is not fully confident but picks Kowalkiewicz based on her overall career.

"I'm gonna go Carolina because I think historically she's always been the better fighter"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Oct 7, 2023 (fight day)
Diana Belbiţă

Lucrative James is confident in Belbiţă, having bet her at +160. He argues that the market overvalues skill-for-skill while ignoring intangibles: Belbiţă hits harder, is younger (37 vs prime), and has a reach and height advantage. He believes Kowalkiewicz has a magnet for 4-ounce gloves and will get knocked down or finished. He thinks the line should be a pick'em or Belbiţă favored.

bet at +160, line should be -120 or so
"I bet Diana B at plus 160 about a week ago now she's plus 120 or something... I think this fight should be a pick him if not Bel beat a favorite"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Oct 6, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Diana Belbiţă

Belbiţă is younger and has been improving, using volume striking and forward pressure. Kowalkiewicz is the more technical striker but has been inconsistent. If Belbiţă can keep the fight standing and avoid being controlled on the ground, her volume could sway the judges. She is worth a shot as an underdog, though Kowalkiewicz has more experience. Expect a decision win for Belbiţă.

"give me a shot on the underdog here in belza and I think she picks up her win... by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Paul picks Kowalkiewicz, noting her ability to win via volume or grappling. He mentions Belbiţă's reach advantage but believes Kowalkiewicz's experience and takedown ability will be decisive. He likes the moneyline and also considers the decision prop.

Kowalkiewicz by decision
"I like Carolina... Carolina by decision is probably that's Plus 105... I think the money lines just fine as it is minus 160"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Oct 1, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

The MMA Guru picks Karolina Kowalkiewicz over Diana Belbiţă, though not very confident. He notes Kowalkiewicz looked good in her last fight against Vanessa Demopoulos and is on a three-fight win streak after a long losing streak, building confidence. He dismisses Belbiţă's wins over Maria Oliveira and Molly McCann as unimpressive, and points out that Belbiţă was finished by an Instagram model. He believes Kowalkiewicz's momentum and better competition give her the edge.

"I'm gonna go with Carolina kovalkovich over to Yahoo beta not the most confident but I think I'm all right with this one"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill · May 20, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 139 of 237 58% 148 of 249 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:52
Vanessa Demopoulos 0 68 of 221 30% 83 of 237 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 42 of 84 50% 42 of 84 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Vanessa Demopoulos 0 28 of 71 39% 36 of 79 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 55 of 82 67% 56 of 84 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Vanessa Demopoulos 0 22 of 86 25% 22 of 86 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 42 of 71 59% 50 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:29
Vanessa Demopoulos 0 18 of 64 28% 25 of 72 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 139 of 237 58% 94 of 187 30 of 33 15 of 17 134 of 230 5 of 7 0 of 0
Vanessa Demopoulos 68 of 221 30% 49 of 190 13 of 23 6 of 8 65 of 216 3 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 42 of 84 50% 33 of 73 7 of 8 2 of 3 37 of 77 5 of 7 0 of 0
Vanessa Demopoulos 28 of 71 39% 20 of 62 4 of 5 4 of 4 25 of 66 3 of 5 0 of 0
2 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 55 of 82 67% 30 of 55 16 of 17 9 of 10 55 of 82 0 of 0 0 of 0
Vanessa Demopoulos 22 of 86 25% 13 of 71 7 of 13 2 of 2 22 of 86 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 42 of 71 59% 31 of 59 7 of 8 4 of 4 42 of 71 0 of 0 0 of 0
Vanessa Demopoulos 18 of 64 28% 16 of 57 2 of 5 0 of 2 18 of 64 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 14, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Vanessa Demopoulos

Angelo picks Vanessa Demopoulos because he thinks Karolina is aging out and didn't look good in her last fight, needing grappling to get a sketchy decision. He believes Vanessa is a solid grappler herself, sets a nice pace, and can hang with the striking. He expects Vanessa to outwork Karolina and win by decision.

Bet on over 2.5 rounds (round line)
"I like Vanessa to win this fight she probably wins by decision but these are the fights right these are the fights where the veteran can sort of take advantage of the situation"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 12, 2023 (8 days before fight)
Vanessa Demopoulos

Big Brady picks Vanessa Demopoulos as the underdog to submit Karolina Kowalkiewicz in the second round. He notes Demopoulos has improved her wrestling and has a dog mentality, while Kowalkiewicz is the better striker but has been inconsistent. He believes if Demopoulos can get takedowns, she can control and submit Kowalkiewicz. However, he admits he doesn't have a ton of confidence in the pick.

submission in round 2
"I'm going to take Demopolis as the dog here I'm gonna say she goes out there and gets Carolina down to the man and submits her in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Cody believes Kowalkiewicz's striking and takedown defense will be enough to outpoint Demopoulos. He notes Demopoulos's grappling is a threat but Kowalkiewicz has faced high-level grapplers and should be able to keep the fight standing and win a decision.

"I too will take care of the cavage."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked May 19, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Connor picks Kowalkiewicz, noting that she has shown signs of a renaissance in her last two fights, looking like she knows how her game works again. He highlights her surprisingly strong clinch and ground game, which could overwhelm Demopoulos. However, he acknowledges that Kowalkiewicz has been in dark places and her striking at range is not damaging, making this a hesitant pick.

"I'm riding with Kovalkavers. I think Demopolis is going to be one of those fighters that like I was just totally coming in..."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Daniel Levi picks Karolina Kowalkiewicz, citing her experience and recent win. He believes Kowalkiewicz at her best is clearly ahead of Demopoulos, who is still developing. He acknowledges Demopoulos's grit and Jiu-Jitsu but thinks Kowalkiewicz's striking and veteran savvy will earn her a decision. He has a soft spot for Kowalkiewicz since she cashed a plus-215 underdog bet for him against Rose Namajunas.

Kowalkiewicz by decision
"I'm still gonna go with Carolina because I like the fact that she got back on track"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 15, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Vanessa Demopoulos

The host picks Vanessa Demopoulos as an underdog, believing her BJJ black belt and strength in clinch and wrestling positions will allow her to take the fight to the ground. He thinks Kowalkiewicz's improved grappling confidence may get her into trouble. He predicts a submission win for Demopoulos, though notes if it stays standing, Kowalkiewicz has the advantage.

submission
"give me the underdog here give me Vanessa Demopolis and I think she wins this fight by submission"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Paul is surprised by the line and sees value on Kowalkiewicz. He notes her experience and recent wins, and thinks Demopoulos's grappling is not at a level to trouble her. He expects Kowalkiewicz to win a clear decision.

"Caroline is the pick for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 16, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

The MMA Guru sides with Karolina Kowalkiewicz, believing she is more well-rounded and has better striking. He dismisses Vanessa Demopoulos as not very talented and suggests she has received gifted decisions due to promotability. He notes Kowalkiewicz's recent wins over Silvana Gomez Juarez and her competitive losses to top fighters. He expects Kowalkiewicz to outbox Demopoulos and win a decision.

"I'm gonna go with Carolina ... I think she's gonna get this one done"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked May 19, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Vanessa Demopoulos

Zane picks Demopoulos, believing she is a good athlete who is improving quickly and will keep showing up and surprising. He thinks Kowalkiewicz may get a round of dominant grappling but will have trouble controlling Demopoulos and putting a stamp on other rounds. Zane is not confident in Kowalkiewicz's current form and sees Demopoulos's athleticism and power as potential factors.

"I'm going to take Demopolis. I think she's just going to keep showing up and surprising."
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira · Nov 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 74 of 202 36% 90 of 230 2 of 2 100% 0 0 4:03
Silvana Gómez Juárez 0 77 of 263 29% 79 of 267 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 5 of 15 33% 20 of 41 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:45
Silvana Gómez Juárez 0 6 of 31 19% 7 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 31 of 86 36% 31 of 86 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Silvana Gómez Juárez 0 27 of 105 25% 27 of 105 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 38 of 101 37% 39 of 103 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Silvana Gómez Juárez 0 44 of 127 34% 45 of 130 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 74 of 202 36% 55 of 170 13 of 25 6 of 7 71 of 198 3 of 4 0 of 0
Silvana Gómez Juárez 77 of 263 29% 46 of 224 24 of 30 7 of 9 75 of 259 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 5 of 15 33% 4 of 12 1 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Silvana Gómez Juárez 6 of 31 19% 3 of 27 2 of 2 1 of 2 6 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 31 of 86 36% 21 of 71 8 of 13 2 of 2 30 of 85 1 of 1 0 of 0
Silvana Gómez Juárez 27 of 105 25% 18 of 95 7 of 8 2 of 2 27 of 105 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 38 of 101 37% 30 of 87 4 of 9 4 of 5 36 of 98 2 of 3 0 of 0
Silvana Gómez Juárez 44 of 127 34% 25 of 102 15 of 20 4 of 5 42 of 123 2 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Nov 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Silvana Gómez Juárez

Angelo acknowledges that Kowalkiewicz is the more technical striker, but he is swayed by Gómez Juárez's raw power and durability. He notes that both are 37 years old and that Kowalkiewicz's five-fight losing streak, even against top competition, is hard to ignore. He picks Gómez Juárez based on a gut feeling but encourages viewers to fade his pick and not bet on this fight because it is evenly matched.

"the pick here is going to be Gomez Juarez I encourage you to fade this pick don't bet on this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Silvana Gómez Juárez

Big Brady picks Silvana Gómez Juárez to win by first-round knockout. He notes Kowalkiewicz has looked awful in recent fights, absorbs many strikes, and has poor striking defense. He highlights Gómez Juárez's power, having dropped Vanessa Demopoulos and knocked out Liang Na. He doubts Kowalkiewicz will wrestle, as she has only two takedowns in her UFC career. He believes if it stays on the feet, Gómez Juárez will land a big shot and finish her.

Gómez Juárez by KO in round 1
"give me Juarez to win or as to win by first round KO"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Silvana Gómez Juárez

Cody leans towards Gómez Juárez, noting that Kowalkiewicz has poor takedown accuracy and likely won't grapple, leading to a striking battle. He thinks Gómez Juárez has significant power and that Kowalkiewicz's chin may not hold up. However, he acknowledges that Gómez Juárez is one-dimensional and could be submitted if taken down, so he is not confident.

"I'm gonna go with a slight lean towards uh Silvana Juarez actually the other way."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Connor picks Kowalkiewicz, noting that her win over Felice Herrig showed she still has the tools to win, even if she had to convince herself to absorb damage. He points out that Gómez Juárez is a one-dimensional striker with poor grappling, and Kowalkiewicz is a surprisingly good wrestler. Connor believes that if Kowalkiewicz can survive the early exchanges, she can take the fight to the ground and win.

"I got to take Cola Cabbage to get the win here."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Daniel Levi picks Karolina Kowalkiewicz, citing her experience, clinch work, and well-roundedness. He notes that Gómez Juárez has one-punch knockout power but is one-dimensional and hasn't faced this level of competition. Levi believes if Kowalkiewicz fights smart—using clinch, knees, and takedowns—she can win. He is concerned about her recent skid and durability but thinks she has a path to victory.

"I think Carolina's the more well uh more well-rounded fighter and I'll pick her for that reason"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

The host believes Kowalkiewicz has the technical striking advantage and superior Jiu-Jitsu, which she can use to drag the fight to the ground and potentially submit Juarez. He dismisses concerns about Kowalkiewicz's chin, noting she took hard shots from Yanan and didn't go down. He sees her as the better overall fighter and expects her to get her hand raised, possibly via submission.

"I do like Carolina here I don't mind the line that she's currently at around that pick him spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Paul picks Kowalkiewicz, believing she is being disrespected. He notes that she is a more complete fighter and that Gómez Juárez is a one-trick pony with power but no backup plan. Paul thinks Kowalkiewicz's chin and heart have held up against elite competition, and that she can win by volume and experience. He sees the pick'em price as fair.

"Carolina kovalkovich... I think she's kind of getting disrespected I think she's a much more complete fighter... Carolina for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Silvana Gómez Juárez

The MMA Guru picks Silvana Gómez Juárez, citing her nasty hands and quick boxing combos. He notes Kowalkiewicz's history of being KO'd and hurt, and her tendency to close her eyes when punching. He believes Gómez Juárez will land big boxing combos and get a quick win, possibly a first-round KO.

"I'm going with silver Silvana Gomez Suarez she's got nasty hands"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Zane picks Kowalkiewicz, emphasizing that Gómez Juárez is a clean puncher but has no grappling game and can be taken down easily. He notes that Kowalkiewicz's style relies on absorbing damage, but she has only been knocked out once. Zane also points out that Gómez Juárez's submission attempts are based on poor positional understanding, making her a liability on the ground.

"I think that's a very fortunate out for Cola Cabbage if things do start to get messy."
WIN vs Felice Herrig
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 4:01 · UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik · Jun 04, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 55 of 122 45% 59 of 126 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:01
Felice Herrig 0 82 of 123 66% 102 of 146 0 of 2 0% 2 0 3:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 30 of 73 41% 34 of 77 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:01
Felice Herrig 0 48 of 70 68% 50 of 72 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:16
2 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 25 of 49 51% 25 of 49 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Felice Herrig 0 34 of 53 64% 52 of 74 0 of 0 --- 2 0 1:54
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 55 of 122 45% 34 of 92 20 of 28 1 of 2 49 of 116 6 of 6 0 of 0
Felice Herrig 82 of 123 66% 54 of 94 23 of 24 5 of 5 57 of 96 17 of 18 8 of 9
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 30 of 73 41% 15 of 50 15 of 22 0 of 1 25 of 68 5 of 5 0 of 0
Felice Herrig 48 of 70 68% 30 of 51 15 of 16 3 of 3 34 of 55 14 of 15 0 of 0
2 Karolina Kowalkiewicz 25 of 49 51% 19 of 42 5 of 6 1 of 1 24 of 48 1 of 1 0 of 0
Felice Herrig 34 of 53 64% 24 of 43 8 of 8 2 of 2 23 of 41 3 of 3 8 of 9
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert picked May 29, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Felice Herrig

Angelo calls this a coin flip fight with too many variables. He notes Karolina is the better fighter but looks like a shell of herself, while Felice is scrappy and well-rounded. He reluctantly picks Felice because he believes she still has passion, but advises not to bet on this fight.

advises not to bet on this fight
"honestly i don't want to pick it i don't want to bet it there's too many variables to work on here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 30, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Big Brady picks Karolina Kowalkiewicz to win by a very close decision. He thinks the fight will play out like their first fight, with Kowalkiewicz stuffing takedowns and out-striking Herrig. However, he is very hesitant because both fighters are on long losing streaks and he questions Kowalkiewicz's mindset after five straight losses. He calls it a 'complete mess' and an 'unbeatable fight' from a betting perspective.

"give me carolina to win i'll say she stuffed the takedowns and out strikes felice herrig"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 1, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Cody picks Kowalkiewicz, arguing that her losses came against elite competition while Herrig has been inactive. He notes Herrig's takedown-dependent style and thinks Kowalkiewicz can stuff takedowns and win on volume. He is hesitant due to both fighters' age and recent form.

"i'll go with carolina but i don't know if i can put money my hard-earned dollars on karolina kovalkovic in the year 2022."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 2, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Daniel Levi picks Karolina Kowalkiewicz as a slight underdog, noting she won their first fight and that both fighters are past their prime. He mentions Herrig's long layoff and focus on OnlyFans, while Kowalkiewicz has health issues. He calls it a 'dog or pass' fight and advises against betting, but leans toward Kowalkiewicz for the pick.

"i'll go with the underdog who actually beat the favorite one so let's go with carolina to get back on track"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 1, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Paul picks Kowalkiewicz, noting her superior striking and takedown defense from their first fight. He acknowledges both fighters are washed but believes Kowalkiewicz's activity and training at ATT give her an edge. He is not confident due to women's MMA volatility.

"give me uh give me carolina kovakovich but of course women's mma so you just you can't have a ton of confidence"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked May 30, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

The MMA Guru picks Karolina Kowalkiewicz but with clear disdain and low confidence. He calls the fight a 'sympathy bout' and questions why it's on the card. He notes Kowalkiewicz has good grappling defense and is scrappy, and she won the first fight, so he expects her to win again. However, he admits 'who knows' and seems to care little about the outcome.

"i'm going to go kovalkavich she's got good grappling defense in her career she's scrappy on the feet"
LOSS vs Jessica Penne
Submission (armbar) R1 4:32 · UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane · Aug 07, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jessica Penne 0 8 of 12 66% 28 of 36 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:26
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 12 of 19 63% 21 of 30 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jessica Penne 0 8 of 12 66% 28 of 36 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:26
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 0 12 of 19 63% 21 of 30 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:13
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jessica Penne 8 of 12 66% 3 of 7 0 of 0 5 of 5 4 of 7 0 of 0 4 of 5
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 12 of 19 63% 9 of 16 3 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 8 of 9
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jessica Penne 8 of 12 66% 3 of 7 0 of 0 5 of 5 4 of 7 0 of 0 4 of 5
Karolina Kowalkiewicz 12 of 19 63% 9 of 16 3 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 8 of 9
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2021 (fight day)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Angelo picks Kowalkiewicz, stating she is on a different level than Penne. He notes she was almost a champion and should win, though Penne can make it ugly by leaning on her. He mentions she has trained with a new team and expects her to piece up Penne.

"Carolina is gonna put an absolute whooping on Penne... she's on a completely different level."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 3, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Big Brady thinks both fighters are past their prime but favors Kowalkiewicz due to her higher volume and better striking. He notes Penne will want takedowns but Kowalkiewicz has solid takedown defense (75%) and trains with JJ. He worries about Penne controlling rounds if she gets takedowns, but ultimately picks Kowalkiewicz by decision.

"I'm gonna take Carolina here I think it's a solid matchup for her."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Aug 4, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Cody picks Kowalkiewicz but with hesitation. He notes her losing streak and potential motivation issues, but believes she is the more skilled fighter. He expects a close decision win.

fight goes to decision
"i will go with karolina kovakiewicz but whereas it should be just like let's hammer this baby home it's like there's buyer beware now"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 6, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Jessica Penne

Daniel Levi slightly leans Jessica Penne as the underdog, citing that both fighters are past their primes but Penne has been more active and showed some offensive output in her last fight. He notes that Karolina Kowalkiewicz has not been the same since her diagnosis and has taken a lot of damage. He believes Penne can win a split decision by taking the back or having top control, though he acknowledges Kowalkiewicz is better on the feet.

"I'll actually slightly lean towards the dog Jessica Penne"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 5, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Kowalkiewicz should keep the fight on the feet and use her striking to outwork Penne. Penne needs to grapple to win, but Kowalkiewicz has good movement and should avoid the clinch. The striking difference is wide, and Kowalkiewicz may even get a TKO. She is coming back after a long layoff but has a favorable matchup. Decision is most likely, but a KO prop has value.

Kowalkiewicz by KO/TKO +900; Kowalkiewicz by decision +120
"I do like Carolina here I think she gets a victory out for you know after uh her extended layoff um decision is probably the most likely outcome."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Aug 4, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick. He acknowledges the narrative around Kowalkiewicz's motivation and Penne's hunger, but does not commit.

TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz

The MMA Guru picks Karolina Kowalkiewicz over Jessica Penne. He argues Kowalkiewicz has faced much better competition and is more technical, despite being older (35). He criticizes Penne's striking and notes she didn't deserve her last win. He predicts Kowalkiewicz will outstrike Penne to a 30-27 unanimous decision.

"i'm going to go with karolina kovalkovic way more experienced way better technically and i think she'll just outstrike jessica penney to a 30-27 unanimous decision win"