UFC 303 will be the last time fight fans see Michelle Waterson-Gomez inside the octagon.
The 38-year-old called time on her career following her fifth successive loss at UFC 303, against Gillian Robertson. In what was a 17-year career, Waterson-Gomez fought the whose who of the UFC Strawweight division and is one of the most recognisable faces in the division.
Speaking to Joe Rogan after her contest, Waterson-Gomez addressed those in attendance at the T Mobile Arena. She said:
“I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for the UFC and all you fans continue to push me. Fighting runs through my veins. It it's made me who I am. When you fight, you chase greatness and I've been contemplating this, and I talked to my husband and I said, what am I if I am not fighting? And he told me, just because you're not fighting in the Octagon doesn't mean you stop fighting. And that really helped me to accept moving on for as long as I've known my husband, he's sacrificed his own dreams.
“As long as my daughter has been born, she's been in my corner and sacrificed birthdays and events so they could be in my corner. So I'm just excited to now be in their corner and cheer them on and be on the other side.”
After joining the professional game back in 2007, Waterson competed 12 times on the domestic scene before signing with Invicta in 2012. ‘The Karate Hottie’ got off to a flying start, racking up wins against Lacey Schuckman, Jessica Penne and Yasuko Tamada. The three wins then set up a Antomweight title fight against Herica Tiburcio at Invicta 10.
Following her loss to Tiburcio, Waterson-Gomez then signed with the UFC and immediately got back to winning ways with victories against Angela Magana and Paige VanZant. She then hit a two fight skid with losses to Rose Namajunas and Tecia Pennington. Three wins against Cortney Casey, Felice Herrig and Karolina Kowalkiewicz then led to a clash against Joanna Jędrzejczyk but unfortunately for Waterson-Gomez, she found herself on another two fight losing skid with losses to Jędrzejczyk and then Carla Esparza.
Since 2021, the 38-year-old has been unable to secure a victory and after being well beaten on Saturday night by Robertson, Waterson-Gomez decided it was the right time to walk away from the sport.
