Michelle Waterson’s push toward a strawweight title shot took another positive step forward Saturday when she beat Karolina Kowalkiewicz in a key bout at UFC on ESPN 2.
Waterson (17-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) extended the best run of her UFC tenure when she defeated Kowalkiewicz (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) by unanimous decision in the matchup of 115-pound contenders, which took place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Waterson’s victory over Kowalkiewicz at UFC on ESPN 2.
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Strawweights on deck!@KarolinaMMA takes on @KarateHottieMMA now on @ESPN! #UFCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/145Men0A4G
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2019
Here comes Waterson!@KarateHottieMMA #UFCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/fq4bk71iqL
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2019
Kowalkiewicz coming to the Octagon now!@KarolinaMMA #UFCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/u2pHjyR54m
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2019
#UFConESPN 2 Closing Betting Odds: Karolina Kowalkiewicz (-160) vs. Michelle Waterson (+140) #UFCPhiladelphia 💵 @ESPN @espnmma @ufc @Jon_Anik @DominickCruz @dc_mma @MMAOddsBreaker
— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) March 31, 2019
Watterson throwing the onside kicks. She should tire KK out and then finish her with a suicide squeeze. It's the only way to avoid a triple double.
— Chris Rini (@RiniMMA) March 31, 2019
KK with the uppercut counter as Waterson tries to duck in, she's starting to control the pace with low kicks now, but Waterson is being hard to hit. #UFCPhiladelphia
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) March 31, 2019
I really like @karatehottiemma style. #iamafan
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) March 31, 2019
Significant strikes virtually identical after the first round
Karolina: 23/63
Waterson: 22/63— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 31, 2019
Close round. Waterson might have edged it.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) March 31, 2019
I miss when the Wells Fargo Center was the FU Center, just seemed more fitting for this city. #UFCPhiladelphia
— Trent Reinsmith (@TrentReinsmith) March 31, 2019
Those knee kicks look to fire Kowalkiewicz up a bit…
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) March 31, 2019
Waterson loves a head and arm throw. Lovely stuff. #UFCPhiladelphia
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) March 31, 2019
KK throwing knees off her back, but that's not gonna score for her. Waterson really controlling her from on top. #UFCPhiladelphia
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) March 31, 2019
That's real side control by Waterson. Look at how far KK's right elbow us from her own body.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) March 31, 2019
ARMBAR!@KarateHottieMMA snatches up the armbar, but @KarolinaMMA survives through the end of the round! Wow! #UFCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/ihsDUwy94h
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2019
No tap zone ! Ouch #UFCPhilly
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 31, 2019
Spinning armbar from side control. That’s a classic. 😊#ThugjitsuThoughts🤔
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) March 31, 2019
I think the broadcast team has said "it's over" three or four times today. They've been wrong every time #UFCPhiladelphia
— José Youngs (@JoseYoungs) March 31, 2019
Mike Winklejohn looks happy as he enters the cage between rounds two and three. #UFCPhiladelphia
— Trent Reinsmith (@TrentReinsmith) March 31, 2019
That last two fights are giving me sympathy elbow pains 😫😫😫
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) March 31, 2019
Round 2 goes to the karate Hottie. Close fight #judo sweet armbar , the girls so flexible. Survived
— Mark Coleman (@Markcolemanmma) March 31, 2019
Dominick Cruz with the Don't Mess with the Zohan reference. That speaks volumes about this card. #UFCPhiladelphia
— Rob Tatum (@RobTatum303) March 31, 2019
29-28 Waterson, a fantastic performance for The Karate Hottie, who has really come into her own lately.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 31, 2019
Awesome fight by @karatehottiemma she looked the best she’s ever looked
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 31, 2019
Waterson repaid the UFC, ESPN and WME with that performance. That was the best fight of her UFC career and should set her up for something big.
— Trent Reinsmith (@TrentReinsmith) March 31, 2019
Damn. @karatehottiemma just showed up and put on a hell of a performance! Was hoping one of those spinning heel kicks would land!Congrats girl 👊
— Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) March 31, 2019
Great fight by both ladies! @karatehottiemma @KarolinaMMA this is why fans love women’s mma! ❤️ #CyborgNation @ufc #UFCPhiladelhpia
— BEKENI Batwa Pygmy A.K.A. Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 31, 2019
No no no no sorry, but the real contender fight is @TSPMMA115 vs @NinaAnsaroff @danawhite @ufc
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) March 31, 2019
"I want to go get that gold. #MomChamp y'all."@KarateHottieMMA #UFCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/qOq14xbfLu
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2019
#UFCPhiladelphia results: Michelle Waterson (@KarateHottieMMA) def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Full play-by-play: https://t.co/8hNlG2XE2M pic.twitter.com/CvUiCarf8z
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) March 31, 2019
For complete coverage of UFC on ESPN 2, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
