Michelle Waterson made some small but effective adjustments late to take a split-decision victory over Angela Hill in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 35 Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Hill stuffed Waterson’s takedowns in the early rounds while scoring and putting pressure with a big right that dazed Waterson in the second round. But Waterson, wearing a bloody nose, adjusted in the third round, finally scoring a takedown.
Waterson tried to pick the pace back up in the final round as both fighters tried to land strikes right up to the final bell.
The judges scored it 47-48, 49-46, and 48-47 for Waterson.
Heavy hitters come up large!
💰: @OttmanAzaitar & @KevinCroom_MMA pic.twitter.com/T5H4G32kFL
— UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2020
Waterson and Hill earned Fight of the Night, while Ottman Azaitar and Kevin Croom earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
NO DOUBT.
[ B2YB @ToyoTires ] #UFCVegas10 pic.twitter.com/vzdsXudBSk
— UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2020
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
in case you missed the prelims:
SABINA MAZO DEF. JUSTINE KISH VIA SUBMISSION (RNC) R3 3:57
BRYAN BARBERENA DEF. ANTHONY IVY VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
JALIN TURNER DEF. BROK WEAVER VIA SUBMISSION (RNC) R2 4:20
ALEXANDER ROMANOV DEF. ROQUE MARTINEZ VIA SUBMISSION (ARM-TRIANGLE CHOKE) R2 4:22
KEVIN CROOM DEF. ROOSEVELT ROBERTS VIA SUBMISSION (GUILLOTINE CHOKE) R1 0:31
SIJARA EUBANKS DEF. JULIA AVILA VIA UD (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
MAIN CARD
BILLY QUARANTILLO VS. KYLE NELSON
MERE SECONDS INTO RD 3 🤯@BillyQMMA with a BRUTAL walk-off KO!
[ #UFCVegas10 – LIVE on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/9TYGVJP4F7
— UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2020
WINNER: BILLY QUARANTILLO VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R3 0:07
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BILLY QUARANTILLO VIA TKO
Andrews: Good scrap, but Billy emerged late in the second round on to the end.
BOBBY GREEN VS. ALAN PATRICK
KING OF THE APEX 👑@BobbyKGreen notches another win in Las Vegas! #UFCVegas10 pic.twitter.com/LnlxCBnTQ2
— UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2020
WINNER: BOBBY GREEN VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BOBBY GREEN VIA UD
Andrews: Bobby went in there and did his thing.
ED HERMAN VS. MIKE RODRIGUEZ
"NO WAY!"
🧨 @EdHermanUFC completes the RD 3 comeback via kimura!
[ Tune in – LIVE on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/lgE8MxKDCL
— UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2020
WINNER: ED HERMAN VIA SUBMISSION (KIMURA) R3 4:01
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ED HERMAN VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Controvery galore. Let them run it back.
#9 ANDREA LEE VS. #11 ROXANNE MODAFFERI
The Happy Warrior! 😁@RoxyFighter gets the win in her 43rd career bout. #UFCVegas10 pic.twitter.com/vd6KUsFkS5
— UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2020
WINNER: ROXANNE MODAFFERI VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANDREA LEE VIA UD
Andrews: Roxanne still has enough to stifle the up and comers. Good win.
OTTMAN AZAITAR VS. KHAMA WORTHY
POWER OFF THE CHARTS 📈
🇲🇦 @OttmanAzaitar needs just 94 seconds to call it a night!
[ Card concludes next on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/UCMWqi0FeG
— UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2020
WINNER: OTTMAN AZAITAR VIA TKO R1 1:33
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KHAMA WORTHY VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Ottman is for real. Good win.
MAIN EVENT
#8 MICHELLE WATERSON VS. #13 ANGELA HILL
SWINGIN' TIL THE BELL!
Waterson & Hill delivered and then some 👏 #UFCVegas10 pic.twitter.com/ov2w7jGc9s
— UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2020
WINNER: MICHELLE WATERSON VIA SD (47-48, 49-46,48-47)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANGELA HILL VIA UD
Andrews: Good fight. If Hill had done more in the fourth, she might have won.