Michelle Waterson-Gomez, a trailblazer in women’s mixed martial arts, announced her retirement at UFC 303 in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 29 2024.
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Waterson-Gomez, aged 38, made the decision following a unanimous-decision loss to Gillian Robertson on the UFC 303 undercard.
With a professional record of 18 wins and 13 losses, Waterson-Gomez rose to prominence over a decade ago, during a pivotal period for women’s MMA.
She captured the 105-pound atomweight championship in 2013 and later transitioned to a successful career in the UFC’s strawweight division at 115 pounds.
“I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the UFC and all you fans continuing to push me,” Waterson-Gomez expressed. “Fighting runs through my veins, and it’s made me who I am. When you fight, you chase greatness. I’ve been contemplating this and talked to my husband. What am I if I’m not fighting? He told me just because I’m not fighting in the Octagon, doesn’t mean I stop fighting [in life], and that helped me move on.”
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Famously known as “Karate Hottie,” Waterson-Gomez joined the UFC in 2015, competing as a smaller strawweight. Throughout her career, she faced some of the best fighters of her era, including Rose Namajunas, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, and Carla Esparza.
Her journey was highlighted by an appearance in ESPN’s Body Issue in 2017, and she often spoke of her aspiration to become a UFC champion for her daughter, born early in her MMA career.
At the time of her retirement, Waterson-Gomez was ranked No. 13 in the UFC’s strawweight division.
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