UFC on FOX 24: Rose Namajunas defeats Michelle Waterson via rear-naked choke
By Adam Stocker
Women’s strawweight division fighters Rose Namajunas and Michelle Waterson faced off at UFC on FOX 24. Here is how it played out.
In the co-main event of UFC on FOX 24, women’s strawweight division fighters Rose Namajunas (6-3) and Michelle Waterson (14-4) faced off. The winner of the fight could be the next challenger for the UFC women’s strawweight championship.
Namajunas entered Saturday as the No. 4 ranked fighter in the women’s strawweight division. In her last fight, Namajunas was defeated by Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 201. Prior to her loss at UFC 201, Namajunas was on a three-fight winning streak.
Waterson last fought in December when she submitted Paige VanZant in the first round. The former Invicta atomweight champion won her first two fights in the UFC. Entering Saturday’s fight, Waterson was the No. 6 ranked strawweight.
Round 1:
Michelle Waterson opened the first round with a pair of leg kicks and a side kick to the head that did not fully connect. Waterson was able to take down Rose Namajunas and applied pressure to her head, but Namajunas was able to take Waterson back. Namajunas applied a full nelson and transitioned to top position.
Waterson lands an elbow from the bottom, but Namajunas landed her own from the top. Namajunas landed several elbows and hammer fists from top position before Waterson is able to stand up. However, Namajunas lands a knee and elbow as Waterson gets up. Waterson countered with a leg kick but is taken down by Namajunas to end the round.
FanSided scores it: Namajunas 10-9
Round 2:
Waterson started the round with two big kicks, but both miss Namajunas’ head. Eventually, Waterson lands a body kick. Namajunas lands her own kick to the body and follows it up with a leg kick and a right and left hand to the head of Waterson. Somehow Waterson was not knocked out following a massive head kick from Namajunas.
HUGE HEAD KICK landed by @RoseNamajunas but Waterson survives!!! #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/62ceGFYjyl
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2017
Namajunas was able to get side control and transitioned to top position to continue her ground and pound with several hammer fists and elbows.
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Waterson briefly gets to her feet, but Namajunas took her back and applied a rear-naked choke. Waterson attempts to break the hold, but is unable to and was forced to tap out.