Career Averages - Rose Namajunas
Career Averages - Michelle Waterson-Gomez
Rose Namajunas - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natália Silva | 0 | 51 of 133 | 38% | 63 of 147 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:24 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 26 of 94 | 27% | 46 of 119 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 2:09 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natália Silva | 0 | 15 of 44 | 34% | 15 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 13 of 39 | 33% | 13 of 39 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Natália Silva | 0 | 8 of 27 | 29% | 15 of 34 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:37 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 5 of 18 | 27% | 25 of 43 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:09 | |
| 3 | Natália Silva | 0 | 28 of 62 | 45% | 33 of 69 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 8 of 37 | 21% | 8 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natália Silva | 51 of 133 | 38% | 25 of 95 | 8 of 14 | 18 of 24 | 50 of 132 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 26 of 94 | 27% | 11 of 64 | 3 of 13 | 12 of 17 | 26 of 92 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natália Silva | 15 of 44 | 34% | 10 of 32 | 1 of 3 | 4 of 9 | 15 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 13 of 39 | 33% | 4 of 22 | 1 of 6 | 8 of 11 | 13 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Natália Silva | 8 of 27 | 29% | 4 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 5 of 18 | 27% | 3 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 17 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Natália Silva | 28 of 62 | 45% | 11 of 41 | 7 of 10 | 10 of 11 | 27 of 61 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 8 of 37 | 21% | 4 of 26 | 1 of 6 | 3 of 5 | 8 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Natália Silva, calling her faster, cleaner, and a better athlete. He praises her footwork and timing. He acknowledges Rose Namajunas's experience and fight IQ but believes Silva's youth and speed will prevail. He suggests over 2.5 rounds as a likely lock.
Big Brady believes Silva is one of the best flyweights, with elite takedown defense (92%) and great striking volume and power. He thinks Rose will struggle similar to her fight with Fiorot, and Silva will piece her up over 15 minutes for a dominant decision win.
Cody confidently picks Natália Silva, citing her 92% takedown defense and striking volume. He believes Rose Namajunas struggles at 125 pounds and won't be able to secure takedowns. Cody expects Silva to win a unanimous decision, outworking Rose on the feet.
Connor also picks Silva, agreeing that Rose Namajunas has not adapted well to flyweight. He notes that Rose's power and speed have diminished, and that she now has to outwork opponents—a style she never excelled at. Connor points out that Silva is faster, hits harder, and throws more, and that Rose's best chance (wrestling) is untested against Silva. He believes Silva's dynamism will be too much for Rose to handle.
Daniel Vreeland picks Natália Silva to win by decision. He praises Silva's confidence, well-rounded game, and impressive wins over former champions. He notes that Silva is younger, hungrier, and has speed that matches Namajunas. Vreeland believes Silva will beat Namajunas decisively and earn a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko.
James is confident in Silva, noting her superior footwork neutralizes Namajunas's best asset. He expects Silva to win via decision, possibly hurting Namajunas with kicks but not finishing her. He mentions Silva's taekwondo background and that she has cashed for him multiple times.
The host leans towards Silva by decision, praising her distance management and blitzing style. However, he finds the -410 line too wide and believes Rose Namajunas is live as a plus-310 underdog. He notes Namajunas's experience, improved grappling, and ability to counter mobile strikers. He suggests the over 2.5 rounds is a no-brainer and recommends betting on Namajunas for value.
Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing Silva's speed and combination punching. He doubts Rose can get the wrestling going and believes Silva's quickness will overwhelm her. Paul sees a decision win for Silva, noting that a knockout prop is not worth the price.
The MMA Guru picks Natália Silva, praising her kicking game and ability to fight off the back foot. He notes that Rose Namajunas often leaves fights close and lacks offensive grappling at flyweight. He predicts a decision win, possibly 30-27.
Zane picks Natália Silva confidently, highlighting her incredible speed and high output. He notes that Silva's bad defensive habits (chin in the air) are mitigated by her speed and ability to counter, and that she has hurt every opponent she's faced. Zane argues that Rose Namajunas has lost power and speed at flyweight, and that she can no longer rely on fight-changing shots. He believes Silva's volume and pace will overwhelm Rose over three rounds.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Namajunas | 1 | 25 of 86 | 29% | 46 of 118 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 6:33 |
| Miranda Maverick | 0 | 25 of 74 | 33% | 52 of 108 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1:48 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 17 of 59 | 28% | 18 of 60 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Miranda Maverick | 0 | 20 of 58 | 34% | 20 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 5 of 17 | 29% | 9 of 26 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:05 |
| Miranda Maverick | 0 | 5 of 14 | 35% | 22 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 1 | 0:45 | |
| 3 | Rose Namajunas | 1 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 19 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:13 |
| Miranda Maverick | 0 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 10 of 17 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Namajunas | 25 of 86 | 29% | 22 of 75 | 3 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 23 of 83 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 |
| Miranda Maverick | 25 of 74 | 33% | 14 of 61 | 5 of 6 | 6 of 7 | 25 of 73 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Namajunas | 17 of 59 | 28% | 15 of 50 | 2 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 16 of 58 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Miranda Maverick | 20 of 58 | 34% | 11 of 47 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 6 | 20 of 57 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rose Namajunas | 5 of 17 | 29% | 5 of 16 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Miranda Maverick | 5 of 14 | 35% | 3 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rose Namajunas | 3 of 10 | 30% | 2 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Miranda Maverick | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Rose because she is the better striker with superior footwork and technique. He acknowledges Miranda's wrestling threat but believes Rose can defend takedowns and out-strike her. He expresses concern about Rose's training situation but hopes she strings it together like she did against Tracy Cortez.
Big Brady picks Rose Namajunas by decision. He believes Rose is the better fighter overall, with superior striking and the ability to get takedowns against Maverick's sub-50% takedown defense. He worries slightly about Maverick's strength but notes Rose has done well at flyweight. He thinks Rose should win at least two rounds in a three-round fight.
Connor picks Namajunas, agreeing that Maverick is a 'Jake Matthews of women's flyweight'—athletic but aimless, with no clear idea how to win. He notes that Namajunas is much better in the clinch than she used to be and that Maverick's wrestling entries are poor. Connor believes Namajunas's speed, accuracy, and combination punching will allow her to outwork Maverick, and that Maverick's tendency to float and try things without a plan will be her undoing.
This is a closer fight than the odds suggest, but Namajunas's striking will reign supreme. She may have issues with Maverick's strength and clinch work, but she will get into open space, land more damage, and win a clear decision.
The Guru picks Rose Namajunas, calling her a much better technical martial artist. He notes her grappling defense and standup are superior, and she has size at flyweight. He expects a unanimous decision win, 30-27, as Rose outclasses Maverick everywhere.
Zane picks Namajunas, citing her superior craft, movement, and jab-heavy striking as a clear advantage over Maverick's aimless, unprincipled game. He notes that Maverick lacks a clear process and often gets caught up striking when she should wrestle, while Namajunas is accurate, fast, and effective at kicking range. Zane believes Namajunas can outpoint Maverick over three rounds, as Maverick has consistently lost to fighters with a strong game plan.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Blanchfield | 0 | 110 of 281 | 39% | 193 of 387 | 2 of 8 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 8:54 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 94 of 245 | 38% | 101 of 254 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erin Blanchfield | 0 | 19 of 68 | 27% | 19 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 30 of 61 | 49% | 30 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Erin Blanchfield | 0 | 25 of 67 | 37% | 28 of 70 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 23 of 65 | 35% | 26 of 69 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 | |
| 3 | Erin Blanchfield | 0 | 11 of 28 | 39% | 48 of 82 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:38 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 9 of 21 | 42% | 10 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Erin Blanchfield | 0 | 40 of 93 | 43% | 43 of 97 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 25 of 79 | 31% | 25 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 | |
| 5 | Erin Blanchfield | 0 | 15 of 25 | 60% | 55 of 70 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 4:08 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 7 of 19 | 36% | 10 of 22 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Blanchfield | 110 of 281 | 39% | 81 of 248 | 15 of 16 | 14 of 17 | 103 of 269 | 2 of 6 | 5 of 6 |
| Rose Namajunas | 94 of 245 | 38% | 68 of 212 | 18 of 24 | 8 of 9 | 91 of 241 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erin Blanchfield | 19 of 68 | 27% | 11 of 58 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 6 | 19 of 68 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 30 of 61 | 49% | 22 of 52 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 30 of 61 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Erin Blanchfield | 25 of 67 | 37% | 21 of 61 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 4 | 25 of 65 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 23 of 65 | 35% | 17 of 58 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 22 of 64 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Erin Blanchfield | 11 of 28 | 39% | 7 of 24 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 24 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 2 |
| Rose Namajunas | 9 of 21 | 42% | 7 of 18 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Erin Blanchfield | 40 of 93 | 43% | 29 of 82 | 6 of 6 | 5 of 5 | 40 of 93 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 25 of 79 | 31% | 16 of 67 | 8 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 25 of 78 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Erin Blanchfield | 15 of 25 | 60% | 13 of 23 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 |
| Rose Namajunas | 7 of 19 | 36% | 6 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Rose Namajunas confidently, calling her an all-time great and a better striker than Erin Blanchfield. He notes Blanchfield's inability to get takedowns was exposed against Manon Fiorot, and without that, she is stuck in a striking match with a superior striker. He thinks five rounds help Rose, as she can afford to lose a round if taken down. He placed a half unit bet on Rose at plus 100 (even money).
Big Brady picks Rose Namajunas to win by decision. He questions Erin Blanchfield's wrestling, noting her low takedown accuracy (33%) and failure to take down opponents like Fiorot and Santos. He believes on the feet, Rose is clearly superior, and even if taken down, Rose's scrambling is good. Brady likes the plus money and thinks the big cage favors Rose.
Cody picks Rose Namajunas as an underdog, arguing that Blanchfield's takedown struggles against Manon Fiorot (0 for 3) and Taila Santos (0 for 14) show she can't reliably take down elite grapplers. He believes Rose's striking, footwork, and takedown defense will keep the fight standing, where she has the advantage. He also notes Rose's experience in five-round fights and her ability to mix in takedowns herself.
Daniel Vreeland picks Erin Blanchfield to win, arguing that the line is influenced by recency bias from Blanchfield's loss to Manon Fiorot. He points out that Rose Namajunas has poor takedown defense (under 60%) compared to Fiorot's 93%, and that Blanchfield's grappling is a different level—she can take the back and submit opponents. Vreeland expects Blanchfield to pressure Namajunas, get takedowns, and potentially finish via ground-and-pound or submission.
Lucrative James picks Erin Blanchfield to win inside the distance, emphasizing her grappling advantage. He notes Rose has been taken down in recent fights and that Blanchfield's wrestling will be decisive. He believes Rose has lost some athleticism and that Blanchfield can finish via submission, likely a rear-naked choke.
Namajunas has shown tremendous defensive grappling improvements, and that will get her a victory over Blanchfield. She will win at least three of the five rounds by out-pointing and out-damaging Blanchfield, winning on the scorecards and positioning herself for a title shot.
Paul sides with Rose but is less confident, expecting a close split decision. He notes that Blanchfield's path to victory is through takedowns, but Rose has shown improved takedown defense and can win on the feet. He mentions the common opponent Jessica Andrade, where Rose won by decision and Blanchfield by submission, but sees the fight as competitive. He plans to bet the split decision prop rather than the moneyline.
The Guru picks Rose Namajunas over Erin Blanchfield, calling Blanchfield overrated. He praises Namajunas's technical skills, scrambles, and wrestling reactions. He notes Blanchfield's poor performance against Manon Fiorot and believes Namajunas will win as an underdog.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Namajunas | 1 | 96 of 180 | 53% | 119 of 215 | 5 of 5 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 6:36 |
| Tracy Cortez | 0 | 58 of 198 | 29% | 85 of 233 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 0:58 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Namajunas | 1 | 26 of 50 | 52% | 30 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Tracy Cortez | 0 | 12 of 43 | 27% | 14 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 26 of 46 | 56% | 27 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Tracy Cortez | 0 | 11 of 41 | 26% | 12 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 3 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 15 of 31 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:47 |
| Tracy Cortez | 0 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 8 of 16 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 4 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 11 of 28 | 39% | 17 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:06 |
| Tracy Cortez | 0 | 12 of 44 | 27% | 15 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 | |
| 5 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 28 of 44 | 63% | 30 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:52 |
| Tracy Cortez | 0 | 21 of 61 | 34% | 36 of 81 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Namajunas | 96 of 180 | 53% | 66 of 146 | 17 of 20 | 13 of 14 | 93 of 175 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Tracy Cortez | 58 of 198 | 29% | 31 of 162 | 14 of 17 | 13 of 19 | 52 of 189 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Namajunas | 26 of 50 | 52% | 16 of 39 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 6 | 26 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tracy Cortez | 12 of 43 | 27% | 4 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 10 | 12 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rose Namajunas | 26 of 46 | 56% | 16 of 33 | 5 of 7 | 5 of 6 | 25 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Tracy Cortez | 11 of 41 | 26% | 7 of 36 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rose Namajunas | 5 of 12 | 41% | 5 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Tracy Cortez | 2 of 9 | 22% | 1 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Rose Namajunas | 11 of 28 | 39% | 8 of 25 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Tracy Cortez | 12 of 44 | 27% | 7 of 37 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 40 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Rose Namajunas | 28 of 44 | 63% | 21 of 37 | 6 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 28 of 43 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Tracy Cortez | 21 of 61 | 34% | 12 of 50 | 6 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 19 of 58 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Rose Namajunas, citing her superior striking and overall skill. He believes Tracy Cortez's path to victory is through wrestling, but doubts she can take Rose down for 25 minutes, especially since Cortez was training for a three-round fight and now faces five rounds at elevation. He notes that Rose was taken down four times by Amanda Ribas, but Ribas used clinch tosses rather than traditional shots, which are easier to defend. Angelo plans to have multiple bets on Rose.
Cody picks Rose Namajunas, citing her experience at altitude, full camp, and superior striking. He notes Tracy Cortez's inactivity and short notice, and believes Rose's wrestling defense and offensive takedowns will be key. He expects a decision win for Rose.
Daniel Vreeland picks Tracy Cortez to upset Rose Namajunas. He argues that Cortez has a legitimate wrestling background, which historically gives Rose trouble, and that Rose is a 'hot and cold' fighter who struggles when faced with adversity. He notes Cortez's 11-fight win streak and that she was already preparing for a fight next week, so short notice isn't a major issue. He also mentions Rose's age and mileage, suggesting she may be slowing down. He calls it a 'dog or pass' situation and prefers the plus 185 underdog.
Rose Namajunas has the striking advantage and the cardio edge, especially at altitude. Cortez will land some takedowns, but over 25 minutes, Namajunas will land better strikes and even some takedowns of her own late, cruising to a decision. The line is a bit wide, but the former champion reigns supreme.
Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing Rose's full camp, altitude advantage, and five-round experience. He points out that Cortez's wrestling has been neutralized by upper-echelon opponents and that Rose's scrambling ability will nullify takedowns. He sees Rose winning by decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 83 of 270 | 30% | 137 of 342 | 4 of 8 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:38 |
| Amanda Ribas | 0 | 93 of 188 | 49% | 169 of 281 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 1 | 6:59 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 16 of 47 | 34% | 30 of 63 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Amanda Ribas | 0 | 23 of 34 | 67% | 35 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:55 | |
| 2 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 15 of 49 | 30% | 22 of 57 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Amanda Ribas | 0 | 19 of 39 | 48% | 43 of 65 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:00 | |
| 3 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 18 of 50 | 36% | 31 of 70 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:20 |
| Amanda Ribas | 0 | 19 of 36 | 52% | 20 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:24 | |
| 4 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 10 of 39 | 25% | 29 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Amanda Ribas | 0 | 7 of 25 | 28% | 45 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:40 | |
| 5 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 24 of 85 | 28% | 25 of 86 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Amanda Ribas | 0 | 25 of 54 | 46% | 26 of 55 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Namajunas | 83 of 270 | 30% | 39 of 195 | 19 of 42 | 25 of 33 | 76 of 259 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 5 |
| Amanda Ribas | 93 of 188 | 49% | 45 of 124 | 44 of 60 | 4 of 4 | 81 of 176 | 12 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Namajunas | 16 of 47 | 34% | 8 of 33 | 2 of 6 | 6 of 8 | 14 of 45 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Amanda Ribas | 23 of 34 | 67% | 6 of 16 | 16 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 27 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rose Namajunas | 15 of 49 | 30% | 7 of 34 | 3 of 8 | 5 of 7 | 14 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Amanda Ribas | 19 of 39 | 48% | 12 of 27 | 6 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 18 of 38 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rose Namajunas | 18 of 50 | 36% | 10 of 39 | 3 of 5 | 5 of 6 | 15 of 44 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 5 |
| Amanda Ribas | 19 of 36 | 52% | 11 of 26 | 7 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 34 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Rose Namajunas | 10 of 39 | 25% | 3 of 28 | 2 of 5 | 5 of 6 | 10 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Amanda Ribas | 7 of 25 | 28% | 4 of 19 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Rose Namajunas | 24 of 85 | 28% | 11 of 61 | 9 of 18 | 4 of 6 | 23 of 83 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Amanda Ribas | 25 of 54 | 46% | 12 of 36 | 12 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 52 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Rose Namajunas despite rooting for Amanda Ribas. He acknowledges Rose's superior skills and accomplishments but is concerned about her mental state and training camp. He notes that Rose has not looked bad in recent losses, being outstruck by a larger striker in Manon Fiorot and having a boring fight with Carla Esparza. He hopes Ribas wins but cannot pick against Rose's talent.
Big Brady picks Rose Namajunas, stating she is the much better fighter with a better resume. He notes Rose is the better striker, has good grappling, and has gone five rounds before. He points out Ribas is less durable (knocked out three times) and this is her first five-round fight. He predicts a decision win for Rose.
Cody acknowledges Rose's technical skills and well-rounded game, but highlights her mental inconsistency and tendency to have flat performances like the Carla Esparza fight. He notes that Rose is capable of looking like a -500 favorite or just handing rounds away. He ultimately picks Rose but with hesitancy due to these red flags.
Daniel Vreeland leans toward Amanda Ribas if the fight goes past the first two rounds, citing Rose's tendency to fade or lose focus when extended. He notes Ribas has better output, wrestling, and durability in later rounds, while Rose's path is an early knockout. He acknowledges Rose's danger but prefers the dog at plus money.
Namajunas has superior technical striking and should be able to set traps and land clean shots. Ribas is durable but leaves openings and has been finished by technical strikers before. Namajunas should stop takedowns and control the striking, likely finishing by TKO in the third round. The under on 4.5 rounds is favored, indicating a finish is expected.
Paul points out that Amanda Ribas has been bouncing between weight classes and hasn't filled out her frame at 125. He credits Rose's performance against Manon Fiorot, where she fought through a broken hand, and believes Rose will learn from her flat performance against Carla Esparza. He picks Rose but acknowledges the possibility of another lackluster showing.
The MMA Guru picks Rose Namajunas over Amanda Ribas, citing Rose's shot placement and five-round experience. He thinks Ribas' chin is suspect and that Rose will hurt her on the feet. He predicts a second-round rear-naked choke after dropping Ribas with a punch.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manon Fiorot | 0 | 58 of 225 | 25% | 62 of 232 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 60 of 150 | 40% | 60 of 152 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manon Fiorot | 0 | 18 of 88 | 20% | 18 of 89 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 23 of 56 | 41% | 23 of 57 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Manon Fiorot | 0 | 19 of 69 | 27% | 23 of 75 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 15 of 40 | 37% | 15 of 41 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 | |
| 3 | Manon Fiorot | 0 | 21 of 68 | 30% | 21 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 22 of 54 | 40% | 22 of 54 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manon Fiorot | 58 of 225 | 25% | 39 of 197 | 15 of 22 | 4 of 6 | 53 of 214 | 4 of 10 | 1 of 1 |
| Rose Namajunas | 60 of 150 | 40% | 32 of 107 | 15 of 26 | 13 of 17 | 59 of 148 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manon Fiorot | 18 of 88 | 20% | 14 of 82 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 88 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 23 of 56 | 41% | 11 of 37 | 4 of 8 | 8 of 11 | 23 of 56 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Manon Fiorot | 19 of 69 | 27% | 11 of 55 | 7 of 11 | 1 of 3 | 17 of 62 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 15 of 40 | 37% | 10 of 31 | 4 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 38 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Manon Fiorot | 21 of 68 | 30% | 14 of 60 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 18 of 64 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Rose Namajunas | 22 of 54 | 40% | 11 of 39 | 7 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 22 of 54 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fiorot (-185), Namajunas (+154)
Round 1
The bout that likely holds the greatest immediate title implications today comes in the co-main event, between two flyweights. Competing in MMA on French soil for the first time, Nice-born Fiorot (10-1, 5-0 UFC) hopes that a win over former champ Namajunas (11-5, 9-4 UFC) will propel her to the top of the weight class. On the other side of the equation, “Thug Rose” will be making her first jaunt to 125 pounds after multiple championship reigns down at strawweight. The size difference is not as significant as some might expect, and the women will have upwards of 15 minutes to state their case as elite members of the division. As referee Rich Mitchell stands by, the two ladies decide against bumping fists. Namajunas snaps out a quick right hand, and Fiorot responds with a left. Namajunas lands a low kick, and she pushes off with a side kick as Fiorot crowds her. Namajunas misses with a back fist, and Fiorot lands with a stern right hook. Fiorot stands fearlessly in front of her opponent, and she misses with a one-two and tries to catch her with a second. Namajunas slides to the side and sneak out a left hook. Fiorot catches Namajunas before the former champ can get off a combination, and she connects with a body shot when Namajunas closes the distance. Namajunas kicks low and shoots for a single, and the Frenchwoman tosses her aside with little effort. Fiorot keeps her range with a low kick and lunging jab, and her kicks are successfully keeping Namajunas at bay. Fiorot gets off a jab and a one-two, and Namajunas parries the latter. Namajunas beats Fiorot to the punch with a left hand, and she lands this same punch two more times. Namajunas kicks the lead leg, and Fiorot backs her off with short combinations of punches. Namajunas lands one kick and takes three punches off the top before she can reset. Namajunas manages to get in a single left, and Fiorot ignores it. Fiorot misses with a strike, and Namajunas slips her and connects cleanly with a left hand. As the former champ blocks a kick, she meanders forward and evades the other strikes with decent head movement. Namajunas drops down to her knees to snatch up a single, and Fiorot shuts it down and gets away. Fiorot lands cleanly with a left hand on the nose, and she bats Namajunas away with a side kick. The round ends with Fiorot jabbing.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Round 2
Between rounds, Namajunas informs her corner that she broke her right pink finger, and partner Pat Barry says “that’s alright, you don’t need her finger.” Namajunas is not discouraged despite the potential injury, and she is ready to resume action. Namajunas gets in Fiorot’s face early with a flurry of punches, and Fiorot stays composed and does not take many strikes cleanly. Fiorot boxes Namajunas up with a few shots ending with a short right hook, and two punches send Namajunas off-balance. Namajunas topples over, and she climbs to her knees and up as Fiorot rushes at her. Namajunas fights her way out of the clinch, only to absorb a flush knee to the body. Namajunas swipes out with a left, and her strikes do not have near the impact compared to her opponent’s – and the size difference does appear to be widening the competitive gap between the two. Fiorot takes a hook kick on the nose, and she leans back to dodge a subsequent spinning wheel kick in the nick of time. Fiorot spams punches, and Namajunas evades every single one and comes back with a right hand over the top. Fiorot times a head kick as Namajunas comes in on her, and Namajunas is able to respond with a huge right hand that shakes Fiorot up at the same time Fiorot tosses a side kick. Namajunas uses the moment to pursue a takedown, but Fiorot outmuscles her and keeps herself upright before breaking free. Namajunas lands a right hand on the break, and she holds her guard high to defend against a kick. Both women swing at the same time and duck down, and their heads clack together as a sizeable cut opens on Fiorot’s right temple. Fiorot pays it no mind and tells Mitchell she is fine, and the blood flow is not presenting any issues. Namajunas times a left hand on that target, and she gets pushed back from a side kick. Fiorot sweeps the leg, and she absorbs a good right hand on the way out. Namajunas scores a short left, but Fiorot lands two back at her. Namajunas swings hard, and she does land a left hook, only for Fiorot to completely ignore it as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Round 3
There is no plan on a glove touch to start the last round, and instead Namajunas is ready to go to battle and try to pull off a comeback. Namajunas lets go with a head kick and shoots for a single, and Fiorot blocks the former and stuffs the latter. Namajunas resets and chops at the lead leg, and she darts forward with a pair of punches that whiz past the Frenchwoman. Namajunas whips a left hand over the top, and she lands another before changing levels. Fiorot will not allow herself to be taken down, and she bucks out of the posture and gets back to kickboxing range. Fiorot gets off a stomp kick to the knee, and Namajunas rushes at her opponent only to miss wide. Namajunas sticks Fiorot during an exchange, and Fiorot retaliates with a trio of punches. Fiorot comes up just short when trying to counter a leg kick, and she absorbs a flush right hand but keeps on moving. The former champ scores a right hand, but it is one-and-done as Fiorot is well away from any strikes that could possibly follow. Fiorot snipes with her jab and swiping right hook, using it to stop Namajunas from getting on the inside. Namajunas chases after Fiorot, and they trade head kicks – Fiorot’s lands much harder. Namajunas tries to cut off the cage, but Fiorot is elusive and her timing is erratic enough to not let Namajunas track her down. Namajunas dings her foe with three left hooks, and Fiorot slips but gathers herself and leans back against the wall instead of falling down. Namajunas looks for a few strikes, and Fiorot breaks off and escapes. Namajunas continues her pursuit, and Fiorot gets out of danger and watches a spin kick soar past her as time elapses.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot (30-27 Fiorot)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot (30-27 Fiorot)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot (30-27 Fiorot)
The Official Result
Manon Fiorot def. Rose Namajunas via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo is confident Manon Fiorot dominates, citing her size, power, and volume. He notes Rose Namajunas is moving up in weight and lacks volume compared to Manon. He points out Manon has landed more strikes in each of her last five wins than Rose did in five-round fights. He has parlayed Manon with Ange Loosa.
Big Brady picks Fiorot, citing her size, strength, power, and volume advantage over the smaller Namajunas moving up from strawweight. He doubts Rose can outgrapple, outvolume, or knock out Fiorot. He expects Fiorot to win a decision, though he acknowledges Rose's striking talent and calls it an interesting test.
Cody picks Fiorot due to size and strength advantages at flyweight, and questions Rose's motivation after a lackluster performance against Esparza. He notes Rose's striking advantages were not used in that fight and she has been off for a year. Fiorot's kicking game and French crowd support are key factors. Cody sees Rose's offensive wrestling as a potential path but doubts she can take down or hold down a strong flyweight.
Daniel Levi picks Manon Fiorot, arguing that Fiorot's elusive, outside-fighting style will frustrate Rose Namajunas, who thrives in pocket boxing exchanges. He believes Fiorot will use sidekicks and movement to keep Rose at range, preventing her from letting her hands go. Levi dismisses the size narrative, stating that Fiorot is not a pressure grappler so the weight class difference is irrelevant. He expects a clear 30-27 decision, noting that Fiorot has a history of outpointing tough opponents like Mayra Bueno Silva.
Lucrative James is on Fiorot, having bet on her almost every fight. He thinks Fiorot is legit, top-five material, and that Rose is meeting her at the wrong time. He notes Rose's mental issues, long layoff, career-worst performance, and step up in weight. He believes Fiorot is bigger and stronger, and that Rose hasn't been finished except by Carla Esparza long ago. He likes Fiorot by points at +140, as he doesn't see a finish.
I'm leaning with Fiorot here. She has great takedown defense and a dynamic striking style with power and volume. Rose is a wild card mentally and may struggle with the weight cut to flyweight. Fiorot's footwork and ability to stay at distance should allow her to land significant strikes. However, I don't have a boatload of confidence because Rose has the experience advantage and could potentially get takedowns if she closes the distance. I think Fiorot wins by decision.
Paul also picks Fiorot, emphasizing her size and strength advantage. He doubts Rose's motivation and notes her inability to engage against Esparza. Paul thinks Rose's offensive wrestling could be a factor but that Fiorot's takedown defense and submission defense are solid. He expects a striking affair where Fiorot's speed and kicking game prevail, likely by decision (29-28 or 30-27).
The MMA Guru picks Manon Fiorot by TKO, citing her physicality and dangerous stand-up, while Rose Namajunas appears mentally checked out. He notes Rose's lack of activity, her poor performance against Carla Esparza, and her loss in a grappling match. He believes Fiorot will overwhelm Rose with a flurry of punches in round one.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carla Esparza | 0 | 37 of 136 | 27% | 38 of 137 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 30 of 133 | 22% | 30 of 133 | 2 of 11 | 18% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carla Esparza | 0 | 4 of 19 | 21% | 4 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 4 of 19 | 21% | 4 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Carla Esparza | 0 | 3 of 14 | 21% | 3 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 4 of 22 | 18% | 4 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Carla Esparza | 0 | 11 of 36 | 30% | 11 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 9 of 32 | 28% | 9 of 32 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 4 | Carla Esparza | 0 | 6 of 28 | 21% | 7 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 8 of 29 | 27% | 8 of 29 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 | |
| 5 | Carla Esparza | 0 | 13 of 39 | 33% | 13 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 5 of 31 | 16% | 5 of 31 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carla Esparza | 37 of 136 | 27% | 30 of 122 | 6 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 36 of 135 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 30 of 133 | 22% | 15 of 108 | 4 of 11 | 11 of 14 | 27 of 128 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carla Esparza | 4 of 19 | 21% | 4 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 4 of 19 | 21% | 2 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Carla Esparza | 3 of 14 | 21% | 3 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 4 of 22 | 18% | 1 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Carla Esparza | 11 of 36 | 30% | 10 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 11 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 9 of 32 | 28% | 7 of 28 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 8 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Carla Esparza | 6 of 28 | 21% | 6 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 27 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 8 of 29 | 27% | 3 of 22 | 1 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 6 of 25 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Carla Esparza | 13 of 39 | 33% | 7 of 30 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rose Namajunas | 5 of 31 | 16% | 2 of 24 | 0 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Rose Namajunas despite acknowledging Carla's wrestling. He argues that Weili Zhang took Rose down five times but still lost, and that Carla's top pressure isn't as good as it should be. He believes Rose only has to worry about the wrestling, whereas Weili was a threat on the feet too.
Big Brady picks Rose Namajunas to win by decision, but he is hesitant. He acknowledges that Esparza will likely take Rose down multiple times, as Rose's takedown defense is only 51% and she hasn't faced many wrestlers. However, he believes Rose's get-up game and activity off her back will prevent Esparza from holding her down for long. On the feet, Rose has a clear advantage. He notes that if this were a three-round fight, he might pick Esparza, but over five rounds, Esparza's wrestling-heavy style is harder to sustain. He is not in love with the price tag.
Cody agrees with Paul, picking Rose Namajunas. He notes that Esparza's wrestling was effective a lifetime ago but Rose has improved her grappling significantly. Cody cites Tatiana Suarez's take that Esparza isn't physically strong and may not outmuscle Rose. He points out that Esparza has never fought into a fourth round, while Rose has championship-round experience. Cody believes Rose can nullify takedowns, get back up, and eventually win by late stoppage or decision.
Daniel Levi picks Rose Namajunas but is not confident, calling it a 'dog or pass' fight. He acknowledges Carla Esparza will land takedowns and has a path to victory, but believes Rose has more ways to win, especially on the feet. He says he would take Rose if the odds were closer to pick'em, but at -220 he is not betting. He respects the value on Esparza at plus 180 and thinks the true odds are around Rose -145 to -150.
The host picks Rose Namajunas, believing her striking and range management have improved significantly since their first fight. He expects Rose to focus on defending takedowns and getting back to her feet. He notes Carla's takedowns can be sloppy and she doesn't do much damage on top. He thinks Rose's ability to create space and her deceptive power will be key. He is not betting Rose at -205, but likes under 4.5 rounds at +135.
Paul picks Rose Namajunas, calling it a straightforward striker vs grappler matchup. He believes Rose's camp has focused on sprawl training and that if the fight stays on the feet, Esparza cannot compete. Paul suggests live betting Esparza if she gets an early takedown, but overall expects Rose to retain her title. He notes the -210 line might be a bit wide but still favors Rose.
The MMA Guru picks Rose Namajunas, citing her improved stand-up and grappling. He notes that Esparza's recent wins have been close and that she doesn't dominate on the ground anymore. He believes Namajunas will stuff takedowns, chew up Esparza's legs, and eventually submit her in the fourth round via rear-naked choke. He mentions the odds are close because Esparza has a previous win, but thinks Namajunas is the better fighter.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Namajunas | 0 | 86 of 168 | 51% | 130 of 219 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 7:00 |
| Zhang Weili | 0 | 83 of 173 | 47% | 162 of 272 | 5 of 11 | 45% | 0 | 0 | 3:37 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 20 of 36 | 55% | 22 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Zhang Weili | 0 | 22 of 38 | 57% | 36 of 56 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 | |
| 2 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 20 of 45 | 44% | 22 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
| Zhang Weili | 0 | 16 of 39 | 41% | 21 of 44 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:38 | |
| 3 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 14 of 38 | 36% | 16 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Zhang Weili | 0 | 25 of 51 | 49% | 29 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:57 | |
| 4 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 14 of 23 | 60% | 39 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 2:32 |
| Zhang Weili | 0 | 12 of 27 | 44% | 32 of 50 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 0:54 | |
| 5 | Rose Namajunas | 0 | 18 of 26 | 69% | 31 of 44 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:55 |
| Zhang Weili | 0 | 8 of 18 | 44% | 44 of 67 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Namajunas | 86 of 168 | 51% | 57 of 131 | 12 of 17 | 17 of 20 | 60 of 136 | 6 of 6 | 20 of 26 |
| Zhang Weili | 83 of 173 | 47% | 36 of 112 | 14 of 16 | 33 of 45 | 64 of 138 | 5 of 8 | 14 of 27 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Namajunas | 20 of 36 | 55% | 11 of 25 | 3 of 5 | 6 of 6 | 17 of 33 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Zhang Weili | 22 of 38 | 57% | 6 of 19 | 5 of 5 | 11 of 14 | 19 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | |
| 2 | Rose Namajunas | 20 of 45 | 44% | 12 of 36 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 16 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 4 |
| Zhang Weili | 16 of 39 | 41% | 6 of 28 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 6 | 13 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Rose Namajunas | 14 of 38 | 36% | 11 of 33 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 13 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Zhang Weili | 25 of 51 | 49% | 13 of 33 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 14 | 19 of 43 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 | |
| 4 | Rose Namajunas | 14 of 23 | 60% | 9 of 16 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 |
| Zhang Weili | 12 of 27 | 44% | 6 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 6 | 9 of 16 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 9 | |
| 5 | Rose Namajunas | 18 of 26 | 69% | 14 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 17 |
| Zhang Weili | 8 of 18 | 44% | 5 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 9 |
Angelo picks Zhang Weili, believing she will make adjustments after the first fight. He thinks Weili will protect her chin, push the pace, and use her boxing to outwork Rose. He notes that Rose's win came from a single head kick and that there wasn't much to analyze from the short fight. He sees Weili's power and determination as key factors.
Big Brady picks Zhang Weili to win by decision. He notes Zhang's power, volume, and cardio advantage, while Rose may slow down as the fight goes on. Brady thinks the first few rounds will be competitive, but Zhang's pressure and durability will wear on Rose. He also mentions Zhang's move to Fight Ready and her takedown potential, though Rose is dangerous on the ground. He expects Zhang to win down the stretch, possibly with a late finish.
Cody agrees with Paul, citing Rose's precision striking and ability to find openings. He notes Zhang's durability but believes Rose's technique and submission game give her the edge. He compares it to Rose's first win over Joanna and sees value in the champion as an underdog.
Daniel Levi picks Rose Namajunas to defend her belt, expressing that the line is disrespectful to Rose at plus 105. He believes Rose is the better striker with more power and setups, and that Zhang Weili may be in denial about the first fight. Levi expects adjustments from Zhang, such as calf kicks, but thinks Rose's toughness and experience in rematches (3-0) will carry her. He notes that Rose is undefeated at Madison Square Garden and that Zhang's cardio advantage may be overstated.
Jacob picks Rose Namajunas, saying he will never bet against her again. He believes Weili's new focus on wrestling with Henry Cejudo could backfire, as Rose has excellent jiu-jitsu. He has a moneyline bet and a submission prop on Rose. He thinks Rose has the 'it factor' and thrives in big moments.
The host leans Zhang by decision, expecting her to use takedowns to sway judges in close rounds. He thinks the fight goes 25 minutes and likes the over 4.5 rounds at -125. He notes Zhang's new camp but limited time to adjust.
Paul picks Rose as a live underdog, noting she knocked Zhang out in the first fight and is being undervalued. He questions Zhang's wrestling improvements with Cejudo and believes Rose's precision striking and submission threat are key. He sees the line as too easy to pass up.
The Guru picks Rose Namajunas, citing her youth, reach advantage, and grappling edge. He believes Zhang's mindset will be affected by her first KO loss and the crowd booing her. The Guru predicts a third-round rear-naked choke submission, noting Namajunas' ability to bounce back and her training with Trevor Wittman.
Michelle Waterson-Gomez - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 SherdogRound 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)
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.
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.
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.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | 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
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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