Michelle Waterson isn’t leaving the UFC anytime soon.
‘It’s A Big Fight Contract’
The former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion is coming off a loss to Amanda Lemos in her latest fight, which left her with one more fight on her previous contract. Despite being on a two-fight skid, Waterson revealed that the UFC has decided to keep their 12-fight veteran and signed her to a new deal.
“I had one fight left on my contract,” Waterson told Middle Easy. “It was kind of one of those things where we were talking to the UFC and figuring out what we were gonna do. I had a heart-to-heart with my husband, talked to my family, and just thought about where my career was heading.
“My heart is with the UFC. I decided to fight because I wanted to be able to put all my heart and soul into everything and be able to fight on a platform where it gets the most eyes— where I’m competing against the best in the world and that’s the UFC. So, we re-signed a new contract. I’m excited.”
Waterson’s announcement would come just a week after her teammate Holly Holm had also signed a 6-fight contract with the UFC. For ‘The Karate Hottie’, she’d ink an 8-fight deal instead.
“It’s a big fight contract, 8-fight contract,” Waterson revealed. “I do feel like I am a pioneer. I’ve been fighting for such a long time, 16 years, I still feel like I’m in the prime of my career. I’m young, I’m healthy, I’m eager to learn. I’m growing and evolving, and that’s all that matters. It’s just amazing how my journey has unfolded.”
Waterson On The Lemos Loss: ‘I Was Winning Up Until I Wasn’t’
Still continuing to grow and evolve at 37 years old, Waterson had a few takeaways from her most recent fight against Amanda Lemos, where she lost by a guillotine choke in round 2.
“I went back to the drawing boards and I just realized that the loss was just a moment. In the grand scheme of things, even within that fight, I had such amazing victories. I felt like I was winning up until I wasn’t,” Waterson said with a laugh. “So, I could walk away with my head held high knowing that I compete against the best in the world and I’m right there neck and neck with them.
“Just kind of like what Shevchenko said, if if that back spinning kick would’ve landed, it would’ve been a different story. But there’s just so many variables in MMA that you can’t hang your head low. Honestly, every time I step into the octagon, I become a better fighter. It’s just given me confidence to know that I’ve been in the cage back-to-back against all these killers, because I’m a killer myself.”
Upcoming Fight
Michelle Waterson’s first fight on her new contract will be against the 10-1 Luana Pinheiro. She’d give a quick preview of the fight ahead of April 8th.
“I think it’s a great matchup,” Waterson continued. “I do think that she hasn’t competed against a level of fighters that I have, and so I’m gonna have that in my back pocket. I feel like, uh, my strengths outweigh her strengths.”
