UFC 249: Carla Esparza scores controversial decision over Michelle Waterson

Despite Carla Esparza not doing much damage until the third round, she earned a split decision victory over Michelle Waterson at UFC 249.

Carla Esparza defeated Michelle Waterson via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27) at UFC 249 on May 9, 2020, live from the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL.

Esparza’s win comes with some controversy thanks to the weird scoring, and her attacks didn’t come in big volume until later in the fight.

Here’s how the fight played out.

Round 1

The two circling around. Esparza misses a one-two. Front kick by Esparza missed. Waterson flashes her jab. No one landing anything in the first minute. More circling around. Waterson throws a combo that ends in a kick, but nothing lands. Esparza barley connects on a combination but successfully forces Waterson back. Esparza comes forward and lands a one-two but Waterson does clip with a right. Low front kick by Waterson. And again. Side kick missed by Waterson. Low kick by Waterson. One-two by Esparza. A couple of combinations from Waterson. Esparza comes forward again but can’t land anything this time. Big right hand by Esparza. Low kick by Waterson. High left kick by Waterson. Low kick-high kick combo by Waterson. A couple of more kicks by Waterson, but Esparza catches her and scores a takedown. Not too much action here in round one.

FanSided scores the round 10-9 Waterson

Round 2

More circling to start round two. Waterson flashes the left jab. Low kick by Esparza. Low kick by Waterson. Combination by Esparza backs up Waterson. Left front kick by Waterson. Low kick by Waterson. There is just not a lot effective going on, let alone landing. Front kick missed by Esparza. Waterson connects with a low kick. Left punch-left low kick combination by Waterson. Esparza charges forward, and Waterson tries to shrug her off. Esparza tries to lock in a headlock, but Waterson quickly gets her off. Oblique kick by Waterson, and Esparza answers with a small combination. Left kick by Esparza but she doesn’t get all of it. Combination by Esparza but doesn’t get all of it. Waterson catches Esparza coming forward with a knee to the body. Esparza with a small flurry. High kick by Waterson; Esparza can’t get a takedown before the horn.

FanSided scores the round 10-9 Waterson, 20-18 Waterson overall

Round 3

Waterson flashes left jab to start the third. One-two flashed by Waterson. Low kick by Waterson. Esparza comes forward, but Waterson again backs up and throws the knee. Waterson lands a left. Oblique kick by Waterson, Esparza answers with a combination. Low kick by Waterson again. One-two by Esparza but not all of it lands. A couple of jabs by Waterson. Esparza goes upstairs. Right hand by Esparza. A couple of left kicks by Waterson. Esparza comes forward, but Waterson clinches up with her. Esparza still coming forward but can’t get a takedown. Front kick by Waterson. Waterson throws another kick, but Esparza catches it. Esparza tries to take Waterson down, but Waterson is able to stick to the cage and shove Esparza off. Waterson’s been doing a good job of holding Esparza off. Esparza again comes forward and is again shoved off. Esparza fires a flurry, but Waterson answers back. Another flurry by Esparza before the horn, but she, for whatever reason, separates. Horn sounds. She may win the round but not the war.

FanSided scores the round 10-9 Esparza, 29-28 Waterson overall

Esparza became the first UFC women’s strawweight champion in December 2014 with a win over Rose Namajunas, but she lost the title in her first defense against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 185. Since then, Esparza has traded wins and losses in her UFC run but enters tonight on a two-fight win streak, scoring decision wins over Virna Jandiroba and Alexa Grasso in 2019. The majority decision win over Grasso, Esparza’s most recent bout from UFC Mexico City in September, earned Fight of the Night honors.

Waterson made noise in the division between 2018 and 2019, going on a three-fight win streak with victories over Cortney Casey, Felice Herrig and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Her win streak was snapped, however, in her most recent bout, dropping a decision to Jedrzejczyk in the main event of UFC Tampa in October.

UFC 249 took place on May 9, 2020, live from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Follow along with FanSided MMA for all your UFC news and highlights.