Michelle E. Waterson is an American mixed martial artist and model whose nickname is The Karate Hottie. She is the Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. Waterson is currently the #9-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com and the #1-ranked Atomweight (105 lbs) according to the Unified Women’s MMA Rankingsand Fight Matrix.
Born in Colorado Springs and raised in Aurora, Waterson is of Thai descent. She began her modeling career in 2004 after she graduated from Aurora Central High School. A karate student since the age of 10, Waterson holds a Black Belt in American Freestyle Karate and has also trained in WuShu, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Boxing and wrestling.
Waterson rose to fame as a contestant on the Muay Thai-themed Fight Girls reality show on the Oxygen television network. She was also featured as one of the fighters in the MTV/MTV2 reality show Bully Beatdown.
Waterson made her MMA debut on February 16, 2007 at Ring of Fire 28: Evolution against Andrea Miller and won the fight by unanimous decision. She faced Freestyle Cage Fighting champion Lynn Alvarez at Ring of Fire 31: Undisputed on December 1, 2007, but lost by submission in the first round.
Waterson made her Strikeforce debut against Tyra Parker at Strikeforce: Payback on October 3, 2008. She won the fight by rear naked choke submission in the first round.
Waterson faced Karina Taylor at Duke City MMA Series 1 on March 1, 2009. She won the fight by armbar submission in the first round. There was some controversy with this fight because Taylor did not tap out to the armbar.
On April 11, 2009, Waterson fought former WIBA and IFBA Flyweight Boxing Champion Elena Reid at Apache Gold: Extreme Beatdown. Reid won the fight by TKO in the second round. Waterson faced the debuting Rosary Califano at EB – Beatdown at 4 Bears 6 and won by submission due to a flying armbar in just 15 seconds.
She faced Masako Yoshida at Crowbar MMA: Spring Brawl on April 24, 2010. Waterson won the fight by TKO in the first round. Waterson returned to MMA on January 21, 2012.
She faced Diana Rael at Jackson’s MMA Series 7 and won the fight by rear-naked choke in the first round.
Waterson faced Lacey Schuckman at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama on October 6, 2012. After three back and forth rounds, Waterson defeated Schuckman via split decision.The bout was named Fight of the Night. Waterson challenged for the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship when she faced Jessica Penne in the main event of Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson on April 5, 2013. Waterson won the fight via armbar submission in the fourth round to become the Invicta FC Atomweight Champion.
Championships and Accomplishments
- Mixed martial arts
- Invicta FC
- Atomweight Championship (One time: current)
Women’s MMA Awards
- 2013 Atomweight of the Year
- 2013 Fight of the Year vs. Jessica Penne on April 5
- AwakeningFighters.com WMMA Awards
She is featured in the music video for Head Crusher, the first single from the Endgame album by the American Metal band Megadeth.
Michelle Waterson is an American mixed martial artist. She is World Atomweight Champion. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Full Interview on Next Page!
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All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have been a karate student since the age of 10, you hold a Black Belt in American Freestyle Karate and has also trained in WuShu, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Boxing and wrestling. You reached the pinnacle of success on becoming the 2013 Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: I believe it is a mixture of it all! Martial Arts is forever evolving, and the minute you think you have learned all there is to know, is when you lose sight of the true meaning of Martial Arts. All the different Martial Arts that I have studied have acted like building blocks for me to reach my ultimate goal. And there are always more goals to be made once you’ve conquered one.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You had gone to Thailand to train for Muay Thai. Tell us about your experience and training there. How it has been of help in providing tactical knowledge in your fighting style that gave you the winning edge in your fights?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: Before training in Thailand, most of my martial arts knowledge was more artistic and not combative. Training in Thailand toughed me up and taught me to be patient with myself. The key to training is to be able to go hard, and do it all again the very next day!!!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: On April 5, 2013 you defeated Jessica Penne and became the Invicta FC World Atomweight Champion. Tell us about this winning fight and how did you feel on the winning the title 2013 Fight of the Year?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: Winning the Invicta Belt had been a dream of mine since I began fighting. I had to overcome many obstacles both mentally and physically, but it made the win that much sweeter.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: I think it is important to drill over and over again until you are sick of drilling, then drill some more. I also like to shadow boxing which is like fighting an imagery opponent. Shadow boxing allows you to fix your mistakes and make your movement smooth so that it becomes second nature. Doing bag work is also a good workout routine. It allows me to work on my power and footwork.
One of my favorite things to do to improve my stamina are tabatas. 20 seconds high intensity, 10 seconds rest, seven times, then rest for one min in between sets. Do it three times. This is very short but very effective way to build your explosive muscles.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: I stay very hydrated, and eat very clean. I try to stay away from processed, fried foods. Towards the end of my camp I stick to leaner meats and lots of green veggies.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding mixed martial artist girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of women mixed martial art and other style of professional fighting ?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: The best advice I can give is to take it day by day. Some days will be harder than others, but allow yourself to make mistakes. Mistakes are good, if you learn from them, and get better. The only person that can truly stop you from achieving your goals is yourself, so don’t get in your own way!
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Michelle Waterson on Women Fitness: Womenfitness.net is a way to get inspired, motivated and healthy! It’s a community where we can grow and become stronger in every aspect of your life. |
Ms. Namita Nayyar: On Sept. 6 2014 in Kansas City, Mo. You shall make history when you hit the headlines with the first-ever Invicta fight card on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Tell us about this unique upcoming event?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: It’s gonna be an epic night!!! All I can say is you got to see it for yourself. I’ve always been better at letting my actions speak for me! So make sure you tune in to UFC fight Pass and wat history in the making. The cool thing about this card is that it is stacked with amazing female fighter that are all as eager to fight as I am, so I guarantee there will not be a single boring fight on the card!!!
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us about your endeavor on being featured in the music video for Head Crusher, the first single from the Endgame album by the American Metal band Megadeth?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: Being on the Megadeth music video was very fun and very short notice. They called me one week and asked me if I would be interested in filming a music video. I am all about seizing the opportunity, so I flew out to LA and learned the fight choreography one night and shoot the next night, then flew back home. it was all very sudden, but I had lots of fun doing it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have done bold photo shoots. How you are so body confident and advice to your compatriots?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: Be confident in yourself and own it! The human body is beautiful and should be embraced. We work so hard to keep our bodies healthy so be proud when you show it off.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Who has been your greatest influencer and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive women mixed martial art fighting?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: My teammates Julie Kedzie and Holly Holm. These ladies inspire me in more ways then one. Outside of being amazing people, they carry the spirit of true warriors and I have learned so much from them. I have sweat, bleed, cried and celebrated with these two and I would do anything for them. Julie Kedzie is the original gansta when it comes to WMMA, she has opened so many doors for us ladies, and if it wasn’t for her and many other pioneers of the sport we wouldn’t be where we are today. Holly is so hard on herself and is always pushing to improve something, and I feed off of her drive to make myself better!!!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Michelle Waterson: It’s important for us ladies to empower one another, iron sharpens iron, so don’t be intimidated by competition!!!! Embrace it!!!!
Womenfitness.net is a way to get inspired, motivated and healthy! It’s a community where we can grow and become stronger in every aspect of your life.
To know more about Michelle Waterson, check her out at: https://twitter.com/karatehottiemma and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Waterson/125822934204202
Women Fitness Team thanks Michelle Waterson for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness