UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis · Apr 15, 2017 · Women's Strawweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis Next Fight
Age 33
Height 5' 5"
Reach 65.0"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 40
Height 5' 3"
Reach 62.0"
Weight 115 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Rose Namajunas
3.5 SLpM
41.0% Str. Acc.
3.38 SApM
63.0% Str. Def.
1.47 TD Avg
48.0% TD Acc.
62.0% TD Def.
0.3 Sub. Avg
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
Rose Namajunas - Fight History
LOSS vs Natália Silva
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 324 · Jan 24, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 18, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

I think over two and a half is likely the lock of the card.
"I'm going to go with the younger, faster, better athlete here, and I think that is Natalya Silva."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 15, 2026 (9 days before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

Silva by decision
"I think Silva's going to kind of kind of piece her up over the course of 15 minutes. I think it's going to be a pretty frustrating fight for Rose."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 21, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

"I do I do have Silva to get the job done by unanimous decision."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 22, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

Silva opened at -150, now -350; Namajunas opened at +130, now +285. Connor says the odds seem reasonable.
"I think it's a good matchup. I do over feel that I have to pick Silva."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jan 8, 2026 (16 days before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

"I'm calling a 3027 decision by Natalya Silva in this fight."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jan 14, 2026 (10 days before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

"Natalia Silva is literally taking away Rose's Namunis' best asset and attribute in this fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jan 20, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

Over 2.5 rounds, Namajunas moneyline recommended for betting
"minus 410 Silva is whack. That is way too far out of whack. I I am gonna lean her in terms of a prediction. Obviously, over two and a half would be a no-brainer here."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jan 21, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

"I think it just really comes down to speed. I don't know if Rose is going to be able to get the wrestling going. And on the feet, there's really nobody quicker um men or woman really out there than …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 23, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

decision, 30-27
"Natalyia Silva is going to get this one done by decision."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 22, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Natália Silva

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.

Silva opened at -150, now -350; Namajunas opened at +130, now +285. Zane says the odds seem reasonable.
"I am going to be picking Natalia Silva. She is the coming woman in this division."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley · Jun 14, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"Rose Namayuma should absolutely be the just better fighter across the board."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I'll take Rose to win this fight and win it by decision."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

Namajunas opened at -289, now -249; Maverick opened at +214, now +220.
"I think this is just a really good style matchup for nami units"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

odds comment: closer fight than the odds suggest
"This is a closer fight than the odds suggest, but I expect Nama Ununas is striking to reign supreme here..."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I'm going to go with Rose Namunas. She's a much better martial artist. This is a bit of a mismatch. Um a very big mismatch."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

Namajunas opened at -289, now -249; Maverick opened at +214, now +220. Zane thinks the line could get longer.
"I think rose is fully capable of just kind of being much craftier and more consistent than maverick and and taking a decision off of her"
Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi · Nov 02, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 27, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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).

half unit on Rose Namajunas at +100
"Rose should absolutely win this fight five rounds only helps Rose because if she does get taken down in a round and gives one up she's got four more to cover the distance she's not only the pick but she …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

plus money
"at plus money I'm going to I'm going to take the dog here and and Rose nunas I think it's going to be a very close fight... I'll take her to win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I do kind of feel like maybe the plus money on Rose Nom units is a little more warranted so I'm going to go with that and I'm going to take RADS."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

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.

"I'm going Aaron blanchfield to get back on track regain her hype"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

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.

wins inside the distance
"I'm taking Aaron blanchfield in this one and I actually think she gets it done inside the distance"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"Namajunas has shown tremendous defensive grappling improvements and I believe that will get her a victory here over Blanchfield look for Namajunas to win at least three of the five rounds here by out pointing and out damaging Blanchfield and …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

split decision prop
"I expect the fight to be incredibly close on the feet on the mat and I'm going to side with rose but I don't plan on betting this but yeah I'll be looking for the split decision prop."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I'm going to go Rose wellt Tred fighter I don't think she's like man on fioro level but she took it to man on fioro and she broke her hand in that fight"
WIN vs Tracy Cortez
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez · Jul 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

Plans to have a few bets on Rose.
"I got to go rose rose should win this fight she should probably dominate this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I think Thug Rose is a very rightful favorite here at minus 200."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

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.

"I'm gonna go ahead and pick Tracy Cortez to upset Rose nunas and surprise a lot of people."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

Namajunas by decision; odds comment: line a bit wide, wouldn't hate an underdog shot on Cortez
"I think from there she should be able to cruise to a decision the line for my liking a little bit too wide again I wouldn't hate anybody taking an underdog shot on Cortez but I do think the former …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I agree she's a rightful favorite I'm picking her to win."
WIN vs Amanda Ribas
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Ribas vs. Namajunas · Mar 23, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Mar 17, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I got to pick rose rose is going to be the pick Amanda's going to stay in her face hopefully Amanda rips her to the ground and just beats on her and breaks her and wins this fight let's have …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I got to go Rose here I mean I I just think she's the much better fighter... I'm going to take rose on my un to win this fight and to Win It by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Mar 21, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I will take Rose but again there's always going to be some hesitancy there."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Mar 20, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Amanda Ribas

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.

"if this fight gets extended I think that her output's on the higher side as well and it's one of those things where Rose is very momentum based"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

Namajunas by TKO (round 3); under 4.5 rounds
"I think we see Nami yunas control this fight in the Striking realm I think she stops the takedowns... and then I think we obviously see Nami unas find that knockout I'm going to call it round three."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 21, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"I got Rose as well... I'll hope that she's learned her lesson from that absolutely flat performance."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

second round rear-naked choke
"I'm going Rosen am yunas over Amanda Ribas... second round re naked choke to Rose nunas"
LOSS vs Manon Fiorot
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Spivac · Sep 02, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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 Sherdog
Manon Fiorot vs. Rose Namajunas
BETTING 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)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 26, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Manon Fiorot

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.

parlayed with Ange Loosa for plus money
"I think mannon dominates this fight... I have parlayed her with Ange loosa for some plus money"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 30, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Manon Fiorot

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.

"in terms of a pick I'm gonna pick Fiora to win this fight... fioro does get it done and get it done here by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 30, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Manon Fiorot

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.

"the pick will be minnow Fiero for me"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Manon Fiorot

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.

Fiorot by decision
"I think Manon fioro is going to be on the outside and she's gonna make rose now my units come to her... I think she's gonna frustrate her and I see her 30-27 here"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Sep 2, 2023 (fight day)
Manon Fiorot

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.

Manon Fiorot by decision (+140)
"I like Pharrell here and I like ferovia points at plus 140. I think that's a good bet."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Aug 31, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Manon Fiorot

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.

"I'm gonna lean with hero here you know she's gonna have a two inch height Advantage uh uh just an inch reach Advantage but I think it's mainly the power in which he throws and her comfortability in the Striking …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 30, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Manon Fiorot

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).

"I'm gonna go firo five round fight... at least 29 28 hopefully a 30 27."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 29, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Manon Fiorot

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.

"I'm going with man on Fiora TKO is my prediction I think Rose is checked out of the game"
LOSS vs Carla Esparza
Decision (split) (47–48, 49–46, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"rose is the pick i'm gonna be rooting for carla i want carla to win but if five takedowns and 162 strikes landed didn't get wei lee the nod i just don't know what carla's gonna be able to do"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

decision
"I like rose nominee units to win this fight I don't think she like wins every round I do think esparza is going to take off a round or two but I do think as far as picking a winner …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"i think it's a favorable fight for rose nominess for sure"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked May 5, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

Daniel mentions he is not betting this fight. He notes the under 4.5 rounds at +155 is interesting but does not bet it.
"I would take Rose if pick'em fight, I'd take Rose. Maybe minus 150 I'd consider, but I just don't want to lay chalk."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 6, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

under 4.5 rounds +135
"so give me rose and still"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

live betting Esparza if she gets early takedown
"i think rose rates the ship here gets back on track it's a very very straightforward fight for her"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

Rose Namajunas by fourth round finish, rear-naked choke
"i'm going to have to go with rose and amy eunice and i'll go over rose nami eunis by uh fourth round finish real naked choke"
WIN vs Zhang Weili
Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 · Nov 06, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

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.

"i'm leaning towards wayley here honestly uh i think she'll make the adjustments she'll protect her chin i think she'll push the pace in this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

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.

win by decision
"give me zhang waili to win give me zhang wai lee to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"i agree 100 with you my friend i don't think you can turn away from it i think it's a live dog shot"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 4, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

plus 105 underdog
"why is rose nominees the underdog in this spot i mean ... i am going to pick her to defend her belt here against wylie"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

Submission win prop; Moneyline bet at -102 (2 units)
"i'm never gonna bet against rose again man i think she's burned me so many times... i put a money line bet on her like a two unit bet i even put so i put a submission win on her …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Nov 5, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Zhang Weili

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.

Over 4.5 rounds (-125), Zhang by decision (+250)
"i'm going to go wildly zhang i'm going to pick her by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

"rose is the pick for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

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.

third round rear naked choke
"I'm going to go over eunis uh mainly because."
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