UFC Tampa results: Vintage Joanna Jedrzejczyk dominates Michelle Waterson
On Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, the UFC returned to Florida for UFC on ESPN+ 19.
The event took place at Amalie Arena in Tampa and was headlined by a women’s strawweight bout between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson.
After falling short in her bid to capture the UFC women’s flyweight title against Valentina Shevchenko, Jedrzejczyk returns to the women’s strawweight division to take the next step in her quest to regain the 115-pound title she once owned. Jedrzejczyk picked up a victory in her last fight in the women’s strawweight division, defeating Tecia Torres via unanimous decision at UFC Calgary in July 2018.
Waterson has been on a tear as of late, winning her last three fights. Most recently, Waterson defeated Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision in March at UFC on ESPN 2. With a win over the former world champion, “The Karate Hottie” would more than likely earn a shot at the 115-pound title.
Here is how the main event of UFC Tampa went down between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson, including round by round scoring. For full UFC Tampa results, check them out right here.
ROUND 1
Herb Dean gets them going as both ladies come up short on leg kicks early. Waterson lands a side kick and Joanna throws a hard combination. Waterson shoots a strong double looking for a takedown, then separates and lands a nice combination. Joanna has Waterson against the fence, Waterson reverses and lands a right hand. Waterson lands a knee to the body in the clinch. Joanna lands a knee of her own. Waterson with a nice elbow on the separation. Joanna lands a leg kick and left hand. Right hand lands for Joanna. Waterson shoots in and they battle against the fence. Knee to the body from Joanna, and another. Joanna reverses position and pushes Waterson against the fence. Joanna with a knee to the thigh of Waterson, who then reverses position. Joanna reveres the position right back and lands a pair of knees to the body. Right hand from Joanna, short elbow lands from Joanna as well. Knees to the thigh and body from Joanna, and a nice elbow behind it. Final 30 seconds of the round and the clinch battle continues. More elbows from Joanna. Waterson has a head lock and Joanna takes her back, looking to drag Waterson to the mat as the horn sounds.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 Jedrzejczyk
ROUND 2
Joanna lands a pair of leg kicks early. The leg kicks continue from the former champion. Waterson moves forward and eats another leg kick, followed by a right hand. High kick thrown by Joanna, followed by another hard leg kick. Waterson with a high kick and a jab behind it. Waterson shoots in and Joanna clinches up. They battle against the cage and Waterson lands an elbow, another elbow on separation. Joanna with a nice combination. Waterson shoots for a single and they head back to the fence. Knee to the body from Joanna who reverses position using double under hooks. Body lock from Joanna against the fence and lands a knee to the body. Waterson is bleeding from her nose as Joanna lands a nice knee to the body. They separate and Joanna continues to land leg kicks. Joanna lands a big kick to the face of Waterson, who then smiles. Joanna landing fast combinations, back to the leg kicks as the round ends.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 Jedrzejczyk
ROUND 3
Joanna comes out strong with leg kicks, another to the body. Joanna throwing with a little more pep in this round as Waterson switches stances. Three straight leg kicks from Joanna. Waterson moves forward and, you guessed it, a leg kick from Joanna. Huge combination from Joanna — about 7 strikes in total — Waterson answers back. Leg kick lands from Joanna. Counter kick to the body from Joanna. They tie up in the center and Joanna has Waterson’s back. Joanna with a d’arce choke and it is tight, bulldogging Waterson back to the mat. Joanna trying to finish but Waterson escapes and gets to her feet. Joanna with a hard jab and a high kick. A kick to the leg and one to the body from Joanna. Joanna continues to land those kicks. Waterson takes Joanna down and takes her back. Waterson looking for a rear naked choke and tries to flatten Joanna out. Joanna stands back up and Waterson remains on her back. Under 15 seconds and Joanna battles out and unloads on Waterson. They trade punches as the horn sounds. A bloody Waterson smiles as she walks back to the corner.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 Jedrzejczyk
ROUND 4
Joanna continues the attack with her kicks, to the legs, body and a hard shot to the head of Waterson. Body kick from Joanna and a hard one to the outside of Waterson’s thigh. They battle against the fence and Joanna lands a short elbow on the break. Leg kick from Joanna, followed by three more and one to the body. Hard jab from Joanna. Waterson is game, however. Looking to land, but Joanna lands a four to five strike combination which includes a brutal outside leg kick. Right hand from Joanna followed by a leg kick. Kick to the body from Joanna, and back to the leg again for two more. Under two minutes to go and Joanna continues to score with the leg kicks. Waterson eats a left hand and shoots under for a single leg. Joanna takes Waterson down momentarily as they battle against the fence. Joanna is landing heavy knees to the body, Joanna with a right hand as the round ends. All Joanna through 20 minutes.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 Jedrzejczyk
ROUND 5
Waterson is smiling and Joanna’s foot is swollen. Joanna is still throwing it and lands a hard combination. Leg kick lands again by Joanna. Back to the leg and body with kicks goes Joanna. Jumping knee to the body from Joanna and they clinch against the fence. Elbow from Joanna and Waterson reverses position. Waterson lands a knee to the thigh of Joanna. Big knee to the body on the break by Joanna. Waterson takes Joanna down and takes the back again with around two minutes to go. Joanna on her feet defending, Waterson down to a single hook. Joanna separates and lands a left hand over the top. Final minute of the fight and Waterson shoots again, coming up short. Head kick from Joanna and a big combination lands from the former champion. They clinch up and get after it for the final seconds of the fight. Should be a clean sweep for Joanna.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 and the fight 50-45 for Jedrzejczyk
Official result: Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Michelle Waterson via unanimous decision (50-45 x2, 49-46)
