Perennial women’s strawweight contender Rose Namajunas scored an impressive second-round submission victory (rear-naked choke) over Michelle Waterson in the co-main event of tonight’s UFC on FOX 24 fight card in Kansas City.
Rose was able to catch “The Karate Hottie” with a brutal high kick early in the second-round that sent Waterson crashing to the canvas. (Watch that here).
From there, Rose was able to dominate Waterson on the floor eventually locking up a rear-naked choke hold which forced Michelle to tapout.
Here is how the pros reacted to Rose Namajunas’ impressive submission victory over “The Karate Hottie”:
Rose looking like a much improved version of herself. #UFCKansasCity
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) April 16, 2017
THIS FIGT IS FUCKING AWESOME! I loved watching both these women since Invicta… this is 1 of the most technical fights I've seen in a while
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) April 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/USMAN84kg/status/853419918007685121
https://twitter.com/Cody_Nolove/status/853420834760740864
That was surprisingly one-sided. Great to see these young fighters improving so quickly. #UFCKansasCity
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) April 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/Cody_Nolove/status/853422164560592896
Congrats @rosenamajunas big win
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) April 16, 2017
Great fight @rosenamajunas and @karatehottiemma ! Congrats Rose! Next ones the best one Michelle. #GodBless
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) April 16, 2017
Thug Rose like a fucking gangsta!! She's another level of animal!! #UFCKansasCity
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) April 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/AlanJouban/status/853421254803472384
@rosenamajunas congrats your the next champion no doubt about it!! the focus was laser sharp tonight!
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) April 16, 2017
Great fight @rosenamajunas and @karatehottiemma ! Congrats Rose! Next ones the best one Michelle. #GodBless
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) April 16, 2017
Get the full Rose Namajunas vs. Michelle Waterson UFC on FOX 24 fight recap below:
Rose Namajunas starts off quickly but misses with an early combination. Waterson lands a nice side kick and then scores an early takedown. Rose rolls and begins an attempt to the back of Waterson. She does! She locks in both hooks and then begins looking for a rear-naked choke. She tries to switch to full mount but Waterson scrambles back to full guard during the transition. Rose is able to posture up and then rains down a huge elbow on Michelle. Waterson uses an armbar attempt to scramble back to her feet. Michelle lands a nice push kick and then another. She comes forward with a left but Rose counters her with a hard right hand. Namajunas scores a takedowon but it is Waterson who lands a pair of strikes from the bottom before the horn sounds to end round one.
Round two begins and Michelle is throwing some creative kicks to start. She just misses with a high kick. Rose presses forward but eats a side kick to the body. Namajunas lands a hard low kick. She follows that up with a high kick that absolutely floors Waterson. Michelle is still there but Rose is raining down some hard ground and pound now. Waterson is able to get back to her feet but Rose jumps on her back and sinks in the rear-naked choke. Michelle is forced to tap. This one is all over!