A women’s strawweight bout between exciting young prospect Paige VanZant and Michelle Waterson is set to headline UFC on FOX 22, which takes place in Sacramento in December.
The news was announced on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight.
VanZant (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was too young to compete on The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 but was given her UFC debut anyway at UFC Fight Night 57. “12 Gauge” faced Kailin Curran, and became the first women’s strawweight fighter to record a TKO victory in the UFC. In her second UFC outing, the 22-year-old faced veteran Felice Herrig, and won the bout via unanimous decision. VanZant extended her win streak to four and picked up her third consecutive victory in the UFC with a third round submission victory over Alex Chambers at UFC 191 before facing Rose Namajunas in the main event of UFC Vegas. VanZant was battered for five round before tapping out to a rear naked choke in the final round. In her most recent outing, VanZant stopped Bec Rawlings with a switch kick at UFC Vancouver.
Waterson (13-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is the former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. The American won the belt with a fourth round submission victory over Jessica Penne at Invicta FC 5. In her first defence of the title, “The Karate Hottie” faced Yasuko Tamada, and won the fight via TKO in the third round. In what turned out to be her final fight for Invicta before signing with the UFC, Waterson faced Herica Tiburcio, but was submitted with a guillotine choke in the third round and subsequently lost her atomweight championship. In her last outing, Waterson made her UFC debut, where she faced Angela Magana at TUF: ATT vs. Blackzilians Finale. Waterson submitte Magana with a rear naked choke in the first round.
UFC on FOX 22 takes place live from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on Dec. 16. No other bouts have been announced for the card at this time.
