https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPN0KGTdbxM
Michelle Waterson understands the game of MMA.
The “Karate Hottie” believes now is the time to cash-in following her submission win over Paige VanZant at UFC on FOX 22 this past weekend.
Waterson, in an interview with The MMA Hour, named several of the strawweight divisions elite – including the champion – as potential fights next.
“I really respect Rose (Namajunas), I think she’s a great person,” Waterson said. “I think it would be an awesome matchup. (Daniel Cormier) was wanting me to call out Carla (Esparza). Even Karolina (Kowalkiewicz), that’s what (Dominick) Cruz wanted. Those three.
“Even Joanna (Jedrzejczyk), I would love to fight Joanna. Any of those names really sound like interesting fights to me. We’ll just have to kinda see what we can do as far as negotiating those fights and where each one of those will take us.”
The fight with VanZant came after a 17-month layoff for Waterson, a former Invicta FC atomweight champion. She also discussed her pay, which shocked many when it was revealed by the California Athletic Commission at $15,000 to show and another $15,000 to win.
“It is a little embarrassing,” Waterson said. “But we’re going to fix it. I hope so. I hope they know what they have in me, because I’m not going out there just to cruise. I’m here for the UFC, to represent the UFC in the best light that I can, and hopefully they see the value in that.”
