Karate Hottie Michelle Waterson will step inside the Octagon this weekend as she takes on Luana Pinheiro in the preliminary card of UFC 287 in Miami, Florida. 0-2 in her last two fights, Waterson will look to jump back to the winning column. Meanwhile, Luana Pinheiro will look to make the most of this opportunity, competing in just her third UFC fight. She is on an eight-fight winning streak and will look to extend that with a huge win over UFC veteran Michelle Waterson.
Whether or not she will be able to do that, only time will tell. For now, we can look at their track records and their fighting style and predict who gets their hands raised when Michelle Waterson and Luana Pinheiro step inside the cage this weekend.
Michelle Waterson vs Luana Pinheiro stats
Stats | Michelle Waterson | Luana Pinheiro |
---|---|---|
Wins | 18 | 10 |
Losses | 10 | 1 |
Height | 1.6 m | 1.57 m |
Division | Strawweight | Strawweight |
Reach | 157 cm | 157 cm |
Age | 37 | 30 |
UFC 287: Michelle Waterson vs Luana Pinheiro prediction
Not that Waterson’s losses have come against the absolute best in the division, but Michelle Waterson just hasn’t looked the same ever since her fight against Marina Rodriguez. The 37-year-old is not as quick as she used to be, not as dangerous as she once was, and just not at the elite level anymore. As for Luana Pinheiro, the 29-year-old has been on an absolute run. A DWCS veteran, Pinheiro has impressed fight fans in all of her appearances.
She is dominant on the feet and carries vicious knockout power. However, that’s not something Pinheiro will likely do against someone like Michelle Waterson. The game plan looks quite simple, emulate what Amanda Lemos was able to do and if not a submission, get the judges’ approval.
“I have so much more to give.”
Michelle Waterson-Gomez (@KarateHottieMMA) isn’t discouraged by previous results and she’s thrilled to showcase her warrior spirit at #UFC287 🔊🆙
— UFC News (@UFCNews) April 5, 2023
To say that it will be an easy task on the feet means underestimating Waterson, and that’s something Pinheiro can’t afford to do going against a veteran of the game. The key to winning this will be to mix things up and keep Waterson guessing. A striking battle is asking for trouble.
Michelle Waterson vs Luana Pinheiro prediction: Luana Pinheiro via Unanimous Decision