A loss for Michelle Waterson on Saturday evening against Angela Hill in the main event of UFC Fight Night would have been her third consecutive setback and pushed her to gatekeeper status in the women's strawweight division.
After losing the first two rounds on two of the three judges scorecards, Waterson roared back and persevered by using her wide-ranging arsenal to beat Hill by split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47) from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
"I was confident (in getting the decision), but we talk about this the whole time leading up to the fight, you never want to leave it in the hands of the judges," Waterson said in her post-fight interview. "Another split decision, it doesn't leave a good feeling in your stomach."
The opening round featured Hill, who was the first African-American woman in UFC history to main event a show, controlling the tempo. She overwhelmed Waterson by continuously walking Waterson down, showing constant motion, and connecting on a variety of strikes. Waterson had a mouse under her right eye and swelling on her forehead when the round came to a close.
Waterson gave Hill a dose of her own medicine by coming out and being more aggressive and connecting on a series of strikes. Hill came back to make it anybody's round until she stunned Waterson with a right hand, but didn't follow up.
The third round began with Hill following the script from the first two rounds. Her aggressiveness got the best of her, and Waterson scored the takedown she'd been looking for. Hill tried to pop up to her feet a few times, but Waterson remained in control and kept Hill grounded on the canvas, peppering shots whenever she found an opening.
Waterson brought the momentum from the previous round into the fourth. The threat of the takedown allowed Waterson to get control on the feet and allow her to use her karate kicks and the straight right hand.
The fight came down to the fifth and final round. Hill fought as she did in the opening rounds, but unlike the first two rounds, Waterson countered with side kicks that started to take their toll on "Overkill." In the final moments, Waterson and Hill slugged it out to the final bell, with the strawweight contenders hugging each other once the horn sounded.
Not only did Waterson (18-8) snap her two-fight losing streak, but she's now 4-2 in her last six and put herself in the thick of things in the 115-pound division that is led by champion Zhang Weili. The "Karate Hottie" is ready for her next challenger and wants it to be a top contender that can get her close to a championship opportunity.
"Whoever's the next contender to fight for the belt," Waterson on who she wants next. "I want to get to the belt as fast as possible."
In the co-main event, Ottman Azaitat plowed through Khama Worthy in just 93 seconds to run his record to 13-0 with 12 of those coming via stoppage and 10 of those in the opening round.
The fight started with both guys trying to gauge distance. Worthy threw a left leg kick, and then Azaitar connected on a right hook and immediately followed up with a stinging left hook. Azaitar took control from there.
From there, Azaitar lived up to his nickname, "Bulldozer". He seized the moment by uncorking a barrage of shots that had Worthy hurt. Azaitar waited for a moment, then unleashed another left hook to wobble Worthy and tossed him to mat. The 30-year-old from Morocco pounced on Worth and unloaded a series of ground and pound punches to remain undefeated.
Here is what happened at UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill.
UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill fight card results
- Michelle Waterson def. Angela Hill by split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47)
- Ottman Azaitar def. Khama Worthy via TKO at 1:33 of the first round.
- Roxanne Modafferi def. Andrea Lee by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ed Herman def. Mike Rodriguez via submission (kimura) at 2:41 of the third round
- Bobby Green def. Alan Patrick by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Billy Quarantillo def. Kyle Nelson via TKO at 0:07 of the third round
Preliminary card
- Sijara Eubanks def. Julia Avila via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
- Kevin Croom def. Roosevelt Roberts via submission (guillotine choke) at 0:31 of the first round
- Alexander Romanov def. Roque Martinez by submission (arm triangle) at 4:22 of the second round
- Jalin Turner def. Brok Weaver via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:20 of the second round
- Bryan Barberena def. Anthony Ivy by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Sabina Mazo def. Justine Kish via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:57 of the third round