Joanna Jedrzejczyk Scores A Unanimous Decision Win Over Michelle Waterson!
UFC On ESPN+ 19 is happening live now (Saturday, October 12, 2019) from inside Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, and it is headlined by a fantastic strawweight affair between the former 115-pound champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and the former Invicta FC Atomweight queen Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson.
Michelle exits first, wearing a white T-shirt and blue shorts. Joanna exits, she sports black T-shirt and black shorts, but also a flag of Poland on her shoulders.
The third man inside the Octagon is Herb Dean. We’re underway!
Round 1
Jedrzejczyk looks bigger. Waterson lands a jab. Sidekick to the thigh missed Waterson. Wild exchange. Teep kick Waterson missed, she goes for a takedown, Joanna is against the fence, but the Pole survives. Good knee. Joanna goes for a takedown, stopped.
Spear elbow Joanna. Waterson lands knees. Great elbow again. Low kick Joanna. Right hand to the face Joanna. Right hand and a great kick Waterson. Clinch. Waterson has one under-hook in. Joanna is pressed against the cage.
Jedrzejczyk with a reversal, now Waterson is on the fence. Elbow. Knee to the thigh. More knees. Horizontal elbow to the face Joanna. More elbows.
More clinch strikes. Slashing elbow. Knee to the stomach, elbow. And another one. Joanna controls her against the fence. 10-9 Jedrzejczyk.
Round 2
Low kick Joanna, and another one. Joanna dominates with leg strikes, Waterson checks her kick now. Body kick Joanna. Face punch and low kick by the Pole.
Front kick to the face just missed. Punch to the head, and Waterson is bleeding. This high kick was close. Wow, a great strike by Michelle, Waterson goes for a takedown, stopped. High kick Waterson.
Waterson shoots in, stuffed. Elbow Waterson. Punch to the head, Joanna. Low kick. The high kick missed by Waterson. Single leg Michelle, “JJ” is on the fence. Big knee. Clinch punch. Joanna has both under-hooks in. I think Joanna landed a knee to the nards.
High kick attempt Waterson. Low kick Joanna. Wow, front kick stunned Waterson, but she survives. Waterson misses with a low kick, good counter by Joanna. More strikes. Low kick. I think 10-9 Joanna.
Round 3
Low kick Joanna. Body kick. Joanna switches stances. Front kick countered by a low kick, world-class kickboxing by Joanna. Waterson misses with a high kick. Two low kicks Joanna.
JJ lands jab and a low kick. Another kick to the leg. Body punch followed by a right low kick, the Pole is chopping her foe down. Low kick missed by Waterson, but Joanna lands one in return. Body kick.
Waterson’s left thigh changed color, it turned red now. Joanna takes her down. And again, Joanna could choke her out, but Waterson gets up, eats a knee.
High kick blocked. Low kick lands. Another high kick is stopped. Few short kicks Waterson, but Joanna moves like a cat and evades. Left low kick Joanna. Waterson switches stances, her thigh is hurt.
Waterson takes her down, she climbed on Joanna’s back!
But her hand is not under the chin, will Joanna survive? Joanna gets up, Waterson is still on her back! Waterson gave up, now Joanna punishes her with a barrage of punches. I think 10-10 this round.
Round 4
Joanna keeps on pushing the same tactics, more low kicks. Body kick. Low kick Joanna, Waterson shoots in, stuffed and countered. Teep kick to the body Joanna. Big right hand, and a right high kick. Kick exchange.
Waterson clinches up, Joanna reverses her and presses her against the fence. Fighters separate. Waterson is defending well. Great middle kick by Joanna. Front kick to the face missed by Michelle. Three strikes to the face Joanna.
Low kick Joanna. Two kicks missed by Waterson, countered by a low kick. Sidekick to the body.
Middle kick. Sidekick to the thigh. Left hand to the face Joanna, Waterson retreats. Waterson’s front kicks look funny at the moment. More strikes by Joanna, Michelle shoots in, but the fighters end up in the clinch.
Joanna controls her back and takes her down. Michelle gets up, but Joanna sticks like glue. Knee to the thigh. Diagonal elbow to the face, Waterson’s nose looks seriously hurt!!! Three knees to the body by Joanna. Another diagonal elbow lands. 10-9 Jedrzejczyk.
Round 5
Joanna’s foot is seriously hurt, but Joanna continues. 1-2 Joanna. More jabs. Low kicks. Wow, what a combo by Joanna, Michelle lands a high kick but no damage. Sidekick to the knee. Low kick.
Low kick lands, Waterson is on the fence, but Joanna is not pressing her. Middle kick. Clinch, the Pole has both under-hooks in. Punch to the head. Good reversal by Waterson.
Knee to the body was nasty! Low kick. Waterson clinches up, and she is on Joanna’s back again. The Pole defends well, she covered her neck.
Joanna forced her to let go. Big punch. Good right hand. Takedown attempt is stopped again. Good punches on both sides. High kick Joanna. More punches. Knees to the mid-section. Joanna has her back. 10-9 Jedrzejczyk.
Final Result: 50-45, 49-46 x 2, unanimous decision win for Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Here are the highlights:
Front kick lands flush for Joanna! #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/OT1JKCnaVU
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Waterson gets the back and has the former champ in trouble! #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/HR4znu3G5p
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
The end of that third round 👏 #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/FkfUoNPKyT
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 13, 2019
Waterson gets the back and has the former champ in trouble! #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/HR4znu3G5p
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Michelle Waterson drops to 17-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC, Joanna Jedrzejczyk improves the score to 16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC.
