JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Carla Esparza beat Michelle Waterson with a split decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Take a look inside the fight with Esparza, who won for the third straight time.
Result: Carla Esparza def. Michelle Waterson via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
Updated records: Esparza (16-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC), Waterson (17-8 MMA, 5-4 UFC)
Key stat: Esparza narrowly won the striking battle, 48-44, and landed the fight’s only takedown.
Esparza on the fight’s key moment
“Victory’s always great. I wish I would’ve done a little bit more in the fight to really secure that thought in people’s heads that I’m really working my way toward title contention. But a win’s a win. We definitely say people underestimate my striking. But honestly, in my head I didn’t think I’d get that much opportunity to strike. My takedowns weren’t really landing, so I’m glad I let my hands go.”
Esparza on the split decision
“That freaked me out. I was really shocked. At the very least, I thought it might’ve been 29-28. I thought I definitely had secured the first round and the third round, so I’m just glad it came out my way.”
Esparza on what she wants next
“I’d been calling Claudia Gadelha out a while ago for a rematch, and I heard she recently called me out. I think that’s a fight we both want, and I’d love for that to happen sometime soon.”
To hear more from Esparza, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
