Saturday night in the main event of ‘UFC Fight Night: Sacramento’ women’s strawweight prospects Paige VanZant and Michelle Waterson stepped into the Octagon for a highly anticipated showdown which likely would see the winner catapulted into the top 5 of the women’s strawweight division.
While VanZant came out of the gate looking extremely quick, Waterson managed to land a throw from the clinch and ultimately submit VanZant in the very first round with a rear-naked choke. The win marked the second of Waterson’s UFC career, and also marked a successful return to the Octagon following a seventeen month layoff.
Immediately, the MMA community went wild on social media:
So much pep in Paige's step! What a little energizer bunny. 🐰 #UFCSacramento
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) December 18, 2016
Amazon head and arm throw from Waterson and transition to the back #UFCSacramento
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) December 18, 2016
GOOD
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) December 18, 2016
Fuck yes @karatehottiemma
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) December 18, 2016
Pull your shoulders back!!!!
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) December 18, 2016
Wow!!! Jiu-Jitsu hottie? #UFCSacramento
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) December 18, 2016
Damnnnnn @karatehottiemma
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) December 18, 2016
Smooth!!!!!!! @karatehottiemma #flawlessvictory
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) December 18, 2016
Damn. Impressive @karatehottiemma
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) December 18, 2016
Nice work @karatehottiemma! You looked amazing! #UFCSacramento
— Shannon Knapp (@shanknapp) December 18, 2016
At least one of the vanilla twins got some heart. #SuperTapper
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) December 18, 2016
That's how you try to defend a RNC. PVZ never quits in tough positions. Congrats to Watterson! NASTY headlock & backtake 👊🏾 #UFCSacramento
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) December 18, 2016
Jessica Penne fights the #1 and #5 girls and is ranked lower than PVZ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #UFCSacramento #JustSayin
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) December 18, 2016
@karatehottiemma great win!
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) December 18, 2016
Wow! @karatehottiemma ?? How bout the Submission Sultress? #UFCSacremento
— Stephan Bonnar (@StephanBonnar) December 18, 2016
Paige just needs more time. Anyone who thought she was gonna hang with a true Vet/world champion like Waterson is ignorant to the sport
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) December 18, 2016
Wrong again….. good job @karatehottiemma ! Sorry @PaigeVanzantUFC I can't pick a fight ever
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 18, 2016
SENSATIONAL victory for @karatehottiemma!! Congrats!!
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) December 18, 2016