Watch: Namajunas takes out Waterson with slick 2nd-round choke
Rose Namajunas just showed everyone why they call her Thug, what a performance. #UFCKansas pic.twitter.com/ReTcQGWWKh
— Ahmar Khan (@AhmarSKhan) April 16, 2017
There's no stopping Rose Namanunas now.
"Thug Rose" dominated Michelle Waterson and finished her in brutal fashion with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their strawweight contest at UFC on FOX 24 in Kansas City, Mo. on Saturday.
Namajunas went in for the kill after landing a head kick that floored "The Karate Hottie":
¡Al suelo!!! #UFCKansasCity #UFCenVivo pic.twitter.com/bXbEowmH9r
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 16, 2017
It was a lopsided win for Namajunas, who out-grappled Waterson in the first and second round, smashing her with ground-and-pound and searching for submissions. Though Waterson held her own for as long as she could, Namajunas' head kick was a devastating blow that pushed her past the point of no return.
After losing a close split decision to Karolina Kowalkiewicz in her last outing, Namajunas now finds herself in pole position to face the winner of a May 13 title clash between champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade.
Waterson's first UFC loss is also the first time she's failed to have her hand raised since December 2014.