Michelle Waterson-Gomez announces retirement following loss at UFC 303

Michelle Waterson-Gomez called it a career Saturday night as she announced her retirement from fighting following a loss to Gillian Robertson at UFC 303.

The 38-year-old veteran had this in mind leading into the fight as the UFC paid tribute to her with a special video that played as she stood with Joe Rogan waiting to address the crowd. The end came after Waterson-Gomez fell in a lopsided fight to Robertson over three rounds, Waterson-Gomez’s fifth loss in a row.

Following the fight, Waterson-Gomez removed her gloves and had tears streaming down her face as she addressed the crowd in attendance.

“I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for the UFC and all you fans continuing to push me,” Waterson-Gomez said. “Fighting runs through my veins. It’s made me who I am. When you fight, you chase greatness.

“I’ve been contemplating this and I talked to my husband — what am I if I’m not fighting? And he told me, ‘Just because you’re not fighting in the octagon, doesn’t mean you stop fighting.’ That really helped me to accept moving on.”

Known well for her nickname “The Karate Hottie,” Waterson-Gomez debuted in the UFC back in 2015 after she previously reigned as atomweight champion in Invicta FC. She moved to strawweight in the UFC and despite being undersized in many of her fights, Waterson-Gomez still managed to maintain a top-15 ranking for much of her career.

She delivered a high profile win over Paige VanZant in her first UFC main event and also picked up notable victories over names like Felice Herrig, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Angela Hill.

Waterson-Gomez retires with an 18-13 record overall during an MMA career that started all the way back in 2007.