Las Vegas: Come Saturday and the UFC women’s strawweight star, also popularly known as 'The Karate Hottie', Michelle Waterson will meet Marina Rodriguez in the UFC main event here and the former is banking on her creative standup movements and better wrestling skills to outwit Rodriguez.
Michelle talked exclusively to Etv Bharat wherein she said she along with her coach have been working hard on her "explosive movements and endurance" and has nerved herself up for 'all of it' against the number sixth-ranked player in the strawweight category.
It is to be noted that the bout will now take place at flyweight due to the late change from three to five rounds.
Excerpts:
Q. You have been booked to face Marina Rodriguez in the main event of UFC Vegas 26. How are you preparing for this fight?
A. Honestly, I have the ability to keep the pace that I do in round one, two and three in round four and five. I do train in Albuquerque which is high altitude. My strength and conditioning coach has been working really hard on my explosive movements and my endurance. I'm looking forward to getting in there and being able to perform. Whether I take her out first, or if we go all five rounds, I'm ready for all of it.
Q. You have fought some great fighters -- Amanda Ribas and Rose Namajunas. Who would you love to run things back now?
A. Gosh, I've had so many. This last night with Angela Hill was a great fight for me because it was kind of a last minute, five round fight. Her and I were going back and forth the entire time. So for me to dig deep and push the pace and level up, was really rewarding for me. Fighting with Rose was really fun. I definitely would like to run that one back. I thought that I was doing really well, until I wasn't. My fight against Paige VanZant hit all marks. Camp went perfect. It was almost as if I was fighting with an instruction manual, where it was kind of like "step one: do this, step two: do that". Everything fell into place, and I was able to secure that victory.
Q. What potential does the fight against Marina Rodriguez hold for you?
A. It's one fight at a time. I have to just knock them down as they come. I get in there and win, and as long as I keep winning, I know that I should be in talks very soon.
Q. We know this fight is booked at the flyweight class, have you taken that into consideration and tried changing up a few techniques or gameplan?
A. There really is no difference. Honestly, I have the ability to keep the pace that I do in round one, two and three in round four and five. And so I'm looking forward to getting in there and being able to perform. Whether I take her out first, or if we go all five rounds, I'm ready for all of it.
Q. We have seen Marina struggle when taken down and you have a very underrated ground game that you use to good effect. Do you think that might be the major factor in the fight against Rodriguez?
A. I think Marina is a very dangerous opponent. Her record speaks for itself. She's one of the taller girls for the division. She throws heavy. She has a heavy right hand and good clinching, and I think that those are her strengths. With that being said, I do feel like my standup is more creative than hers. I have more options when it comes to where I want to take the fight - if I want to keep it standing or if I want to take it to the ground. And my wrestling is better than hers and so is my jujitsu.
Watch UFC Fight Night – Rodriguez Vs Waterson on May 9, 2021, LIVE on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 3 channels from 5:30 AM IST
By Ayushmaan Pandey
