The women’s strawweight showdown between popular 115lb’ers Michelle Waterson (18-9) and Amanda Ribas (11-2) has been pushed back.
Originally expected to take place on March 26, 2022 at UFC Columbus, the fight has now been rebooked for UFC 274. The move comes after Waterson suffered an undisclosed injury in training, per a report by Ag.Fight.
MMA Fighting was first to report the new date. While not officially announced by the promotion, UFC 274 is currently being targeted to take place in Phoenix, Arizona. The company last visited the area in June of 2021.
Waterson, 36, a.k.a. “The Karate Hottie,” is a former Invicta FC champ who has flirted with the top of the strawweight division for years. Come June, she’ll be looking to bounce back from a May 2021 loss to top contender Marina Rodriguez.
Prior to that, Waterson had picked up a split decision victory against fellow Invicta alum Angela Hill.
Brazil’s Ribas, 28, last fought at UFC 267 in October, earning a win over former Invicta champ Virna Jandiroba. That victory got her back in the win column after a loss to the aforementioned Rodriguez earlier in 2021.
UFC 274 is expected to be headlined by a lightweight title fight, as champ Charles Oliveira puts his belt on the line against Justin Gaethje. The event will take place on May 7, 2022.
