Michelle Waterson

Michelle Eileen Waterson-Gomez (born January 6, 1986) is an American former mixed martial artist, actress, stuntwoman, and model who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is the former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. Between 2013 and 2014, she was ranked the No. 1 women's atomweight fighter in the world.

Early life Born in Colorado Springs and raised in Aurora, Waterson is of European and Thai descent: her father is American and mother Thai. She began her modeling career in 2004 after she graduated from Aurora Central High School. She then attended the University of Denver, also working as a waitress at Hooters, until she realized she wanted to pursue a career in fighting.

Early martial arts career She had an early interest in gymnastics but an inability to pay for classes led her to karate at age 10.

Waterson-Gomez holds a black belt in American freestyle karate and has also trained in wushu, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing and wrestling.

She rose to fame as a contestant on the Muay Thai-themed Fight Girls reality show on the Oxygen television network. She was also featured as one of the fighters in the MTV/MTV2 reality show Bully Beatdown.

Mixed martial arts career Waterson made her MMA debut on February 16, 2007, at Ring of Fire 28: Evolution against Andrea Miller, winning the fight by unanimous decision. She made her debut without having any amateur fights.

She faced Freestyle Cage Fighting champion Lynn Alvarez at Ring of Fire 31: Undisputed on December 1, 2007, but lost by submission in the first round.

Waterson faced Karina Taylor at Duke City MMA Series 1 on March 1, 2009. She won the fight by armbar submission in the first round. There was some controversy with this fight because Taylor did not tap out to the armbar.

On April 11, 2009, Waterson fought former WIBA and IFBA Flyweight Boxing Champion Elena Reid at Apache Gold: Extreme Beatdown. Reid won the fight by TKO in the second round.

Waterson faced the debuting Rosary Califano at EB - Beatdown at 4 Bears 6 and won by submission due to a flying armbar in just 15 seconds.

She faced Masako Yoshida at Crowbar MMA: Spring Brawl on April 24, 2010. Waterson won the fight by TKO in the first round.

Waterson returned to MMA on January 21, 2012. She faced Diana Rael at Jackson's MMA Series 7 and won the fight by rear-naked choke in the first round.

Invicta Fighting Championships Waterson faced Lacey Schuckman at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama on October 6, 2012. After three back and forth rounds, Waterson defeated Schuckman via split decision. The bout was named Fight of the Night.

Waterson challenged for the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship when she faced Jessica Penne in the main event of Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson on April 5, 2013. Waterson won the fight via armbar submission in the fourth round to become the Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. On September 6, 2014, Waterson successfully defended her championship against Yasuko Tamada in the main event of Invicta FC 8 via TKO in the third round.

Waterson next headlined Invicta FC 10 on December 5, 2014, in Houston against Brazilian Hérica Tibúrcio. She lost the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the third round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship On April 28, 2015, it was reported that Waterson had officially signed with the UFC and was expected to compete in the Women's Strawweight division. Waterson made her promotional debut against Angela Magaña on July 12, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale. She won the fight via submission in the third round.

Waterson was next expected to meet Tecia Torres at UFC 194. However, she was forced to pull out of the bout on November 24, 2015, citing a knee injury.

After over a year-and-a-half away from the sport due to injuries, Waterson returned in December 2016 to face Paige VanZant in the main event at UFC on Fox 22. She won the fight via technical submission due to a rear naked choke in the first round. The win also earned Waterson her first Performance of the Night bonus award.

Waterson fought Rose Namajunas on April 15, 2017, at UFC on Fox 24. She lost via rear naked choke. Waterson faced Tecia Torres on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Waterson faced Cortney Casey at UFC on Fox 29 on April 14, 2018. She won the fight via split decision. Waterson next faced Felice Herrig on October 6, 2018, at UFC 229. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Waterson fought Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC on ESPN 2 on March 30, 2019. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Waterson faced Joanna Jędrzejczyk on October 12, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 161. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Waterson was scheduled to face Carla Esparza on April 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed and the bout eventually took place on May 9, 2020, at UFC 249. She lost the fight via split decision.

Waterson was scheduled to meet Angela Hill on August 22, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 15. However, due to some personal reasons on Waterson's side, the bout was moved three weeks later to UFC Fight Night 177. She won the fight via split decision. This fight earned her the Fight of the Night award. After the fight, Waterson was awarded her BJJ brown belt in the octagon from her coach, Gracie Barra's Rafael 'Barata' Freitas.

Waterson was scheduled to face Amanda Ribas on January 24, 2021 at UFC 257. However, Waterson pulled out of the bout in early December due to undisclosed reasons. She was replaced by Marina Rodriguez. In May 2021, Waterson clarified that the reason for withdrawal was the loss of two grandparents. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Waterson was scheduled to face Amanda Ribas on March 26, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 205. However, the bout was postponed to UFC 274 on May 7, 2022, due to Waterson sustaining an undisclosed injury.

Waterson faced Amanda Lemos on July 16, 2022, at UFC on ABC 3. She lost the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round.

Waterson faced Luana Pinheiro on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287. She lost the close bout via split decision.

Waterson faced Marina Rodriguez in a rematch on September 23, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 228. She lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Waterson was expected to face Gillian Robertson on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302. However, for unknown reasons, the bout was moved and eventually took place at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024. She lost the fight via unanimous decision, and subsequently announced her retirement from mixed martial arts competition.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) Invicta Fighting Championships Invicta FC Atomweight Championship (One time) One successful title defense Fight of the Night (Two times) Women's MMA Awards 2013 Atomweight of the Year 2013 Fight of the Year vs. Jessica Penne on April 5 2014 Fight of the Year vs. Hérica Tibúrcio on December 5 AwakeningFighters.com WMMA Awards 2013 Atomweight of the Year 2014 Atomweight of the Year FightBooth.com 2014 Most Vulgar Display of Power Award (Beatdown of the Year) vs. Yasuko Tamada MMAjunkie.com 2020 September Fight of the Month

Personal life Waterson is married to former U.S. Armed Forces amateur boxing champion Joshua Gomez. On September 16, 2010, Waterson announced that she was pregnant with her first child and recently engaged. She gave birth to a daughter on March 18, 2011.

Waterson got her "Karate Hottie" nickname while a spokesmodel for a bikini website.

She is featured in the music video for Head Crusher, the first single from the Endgame album by the American Metal band Megadeth.

Waterson performed some stunts for Natalie Portman in the Marvel movie Thor.

On June 24, 2014, she appeared on American Ninja Warrior but failed to qualify when she fell on the first obstacle.

She was also featured on Bully Beatdown. She was the central character of the 2016 documentary Fight Mom.

In 2017, Waterson competed on the special mini-series for the MTV reality show The Challenge titled Champs vs. Stars. That same year, she was featured in The Body Issue.

Selected filmography Year Film Role Notes 2010 MacGruber Club Babe #1 Stunt double: Kristen Wiig 2011 Thor Utility stunts 2011 Fright Night Vamp #2 2012 Jackie Chinese waitress 2013 Odd Thomas Stunts 2013 The Lone Ranger Stunts 2014 The Signal Stunt double: Olivia Cooke 2014 Transcendence Stunts 2016 Independence Day: Resurgence Stunts 2018 Crossed Lines Trish Koi Main character 2022 The Cleaning Lady MMA Fighter #1 Episode: "TNT" 2025 Havoc Assassin

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Gillian Robertson Decision (unanimous) UFC 303

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Marina Rodriguez TKO (elbows and punches) UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Gamrot

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Luana Pinheiro Decision (split) UFC 287

Miami, Florida, United States Loss

Amanda Lemos Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez

Elmont, New York, United States Loss

Marina Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Angela Hill Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Carla Esparza Decision (split) UFC 249

Jacksonville, Florida, United States Loss

Joanna Jędrzejczyk Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Felice Herrig |Decision (unanimous) UFC 229

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Cortney Casey Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje

Glendale, Arizona, United States Loss

Tecia Torres Decision (unanimous) UFC 218

Detroit, Michigan, United States Loss

Rose Namajunas Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Paige VanZant Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Angela Magaña Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Hérica Tibúrcio Submission (guillotine choke) Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Yasuko Tamada TKO (knee and punch) Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Jessica Penne Submission (armbar) Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Lacey Schuckman Decision (split) Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Diana Rael Submission (rear-naked choke) Jackson's MMA Series 7

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Win

Masako Yoshida TKO (punches) Crowbar MMA: Spring Brawl

Fargo, North Dakota, United States Win

Rosary Califano Submission (flying armbar) Beatdown at 4 Bears 6

New Town, North Dakota, United States Loss

Elena Reid TKO (punches) Apache Gold: Extreme Beatdown

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Karina Taylor Technical Submission (armbar) Duke City MMA Series 1

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Win

Tyra Parker Submission (rear-naked choke) Strikeforce: Payback

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Krystal Macatol Submission (armbar) SCA: Bike n Brawl 2

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Win

Thricia Poovey TKO (corner stoppage) KOTC: Badlands

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Loss

Lynn Alvarez Submission (guillotine choke) Ring of Fire 31: Undisputed

Broomfield, Colorado, United States Win

Jaime Cook Submission (armbar) Ring of Fire 30: Domination

Broomfield, Colorado, United States Loss

Alicia Gumm Decision (unanimous) RMBB: Battle of the Arts

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Andrea Miller Decision (unanimous) Ring of Fire 28: Evolution

Broomfield, Colorado, United States

Kickboxing record