A pivotal 115-pound matchup is headed to Portland.
Michelle Waterson will take on Carla Esparza at UFC on ESPN + 30, the promotion announced Saturday.
UFC on ESPN+ 30 takes place April 11 at Moda Center in Portland, Ore. The card is expected to stream on ESPN+.
The fight marks the first time Waterson (17-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) will compete since a unanimous decision loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC on ESPN+ 19 last October. Over the course of five rounds, Waterson was picked apart by the former champion. However, “The Karate Hottie” hung tough and survived the onslaught.
Prior to the loss, Waterson had won three straight fights against Courtney Casey, Felice Herrig and Karolina Kowalkiewicz, respectively.
As for Esparza (15-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC), she’s won back-to-back fights. After she defeated former Invicta champion Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN+ 8 last April, Esparza edged Alexa Grasso by majority at UFC on ESPN+ 17 in September.
The inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion, Esparza has picked up victories in four out of her most recent six bouts.
With the addition, here’s the current UFC on ESPN+ 30 lineup:
- Walt Harris vs. Alistair Overeem
- Randy Brown vs. Vicente Luque
- Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
- Tristan Connelly vs. Alex Silva
- Don’Tale Mayes vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
- Alessio Di Chirico vs. Markus Perez
- Julia Avila vs. Karol Rosa
