A battle between two fan-favorite UFC strawweights is on deck for March 26 as the promotion is targeting a fight between Amanda Ribas and Michelle Waterson.
A bout between two fan-favorites in the UFC strawweight division is in the works as Amanda Ribas is expected to welcome back Michelle Waterson on March 26. MMA Junkie was first to report the news.
Ribas (11-2) is looking to continue building momentum after getting back in the win column in October against Virna Jandiroba. After a breakout year in 2019 where she defeated top contender Mackenzie Dern, Ribas went on record wins over Randa Markos and Paige VanZant to accelerate her rise up the rankings. 2021 saw her struggle to remain active after she lost to Marina Rodriguez in January and a case of covid forced her out of a late spring bout with Angela Hill.
Waterson (18-9) is in another high profile contest after facing many of the top strawweights in the UFC over the course of her tenure with the company. “The Karate Hottie” has not fought since losing a short notice main event against Marina Rodriguez in May and is looking to stay in the top ten with the matchup against Ribas. Waterson has recently a faced a difficult calendar schedule with Rodriguez, and former champions Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Carla Esparza comprising three of her last four fights.
The event is currently scheduled to be headlined by a light heavyweight bout between former champion Jan Blachowicz and top contender Aleksandar Rakic. No location for the event has been given, though it is widely expected to be at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
