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ESPN’s E:60 chronicles the life and career of UFC strawweight Michelle Waterson, who is determined to become the promotion’s first ever champion that is also a mother.

Every mother that has a job has to make sacrifices in order to also raise her children. In that regard, Waterson is no different than any other mom, but her choice of vocation is a bit of an alternate path for most people. She fights in a cage.

While many fighters don’t want their kids cageside or even watching their fights, Waterson embraces her job and her motherhood with her daughter a constant by her side. It is her goal to become the first woman in the UFC to be a mother and also be a champion.

She’s well on her way to at least giving herself a shot at achieving that goal. 

Waterson has already been an Invicta FC champion at 105 pounds, but is currently rising up the ranks to earn a shot at the UFC starwweight title currently held by Rose Namajunas, a fighter that has defeated Waterson once before.

Waterson also lost to Tecia Torres after the Namajunas fight, but has since regrouped and found her way back to the top. She is currently riding a three-fight winning streak over Cortney Casey, Felice Herrig, and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. 

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Right now, she is awaiting the outcome of Namajunas’ next fight, as she steps into the UFC 237 main event to defend against Jessica Andrade on the Brazilian’s home turf. Regardless of who wins, Waterson is hoping to get the next crack at the belt and realize her dream.

UFC 237: Namajunas vs. Andrade takes place on May 11 in Rio de Janeiro. 

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/michelle-waterson-cage-mom-full-espn-e60-video

(Courtesy of JRE Clips)

Dustin Poirier just became the interim UFC lightweight champion of the world. Just a few months ago, he was supposed to have fought Nate Diaz. Before the fight ever got near the cage, Poirier had to withdraw because of a hip injury.

What if that fight had happened? And what if Diaz had won? Would we have seen Diaz facing UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway for the interim belt at UFC 236 in Atlanta instead of Poirier? 

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Joe Rogan, during a recent podcast, discussed that exact scenario with Brendan Schaub and what might be next for Diaz next time he steps into the Octagon. 

What do you think is next for Nate Diaz? Do you think he’ll ever fight in the Octagon again?

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/joe-rogan-waxes-on-what-might-be-next-for-nate-diaz

(Courtesy of MMAFightingonSBN)

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is expected to face Colby Covington in the first defense of his belt, but the UFC’s first Nigerian champion isn’t automatically granting Covington the shot.

Usman took the belt from Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 in March, but has been badgered by Covington for months, and nearly got into a brawl with him in a casino the day after winning the belt from Woodley.

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Following the fight with Woodley, Usman had surgery on his hand and isn’t going to rush things in his return to the Octagon. He’ll still most likely fight Covington next, but he’s in a position of power and is using it to push Covington’s buttons.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/kamaru-usman-to-colby-covington-now-you-have-to-beg-me-for-that-fight

(Courtesy of UFC)

A veteran of 37 professional fights during his 13-year career, Rich Franklin compiled a record of 29-7, 1 NC (14-6 UFC), which included wins over UFC Hall of Famers Ken Shamrock and Chuck Liddell, former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner, and former PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva.

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With a mountain of accomplishments to his credit, Franklin on Saturday was announced as the latest addition to the UFC Hall of Fame. He will be inducted as part of the Class of 2019, entering the Pioneer Era wing.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/a-look-back-at-rich-franklins-ufc-hall-of-fame-career

Six fights into his UFC tenure and Israel Adesanya is a champion. Not only is he a champion, he’s quickly becoming one of the top stars in the fight promotion.

“Israel is flashy. Israel is a good looking kid. Israel speaks real well. Israel Adesanya became a start tonight,” UFC president Dana White said Saturday night following UFC 236 in Atlanta, where Adesanya bested Kelvin Gastelum to become the interim middleweight champion.

Adesanya will now be matched with current middleweight champion Robert Whittaker to unify the belts later this year, once Whittaker returns from injury. 

White had initially planned for the winner of the interim middleweight title fight to face Whittaker in the United States, but considering Adesanya’s meteoric rise, he wants the fight to take place in Australia, believing it could take place in a large stadium instead of an arena. 

In mentioning Adesanya’s rise, White compared him to Conor McGregor.

The similarities between Israel Adesanya and Conor McGregor

“You know who (Adesanya) reminds me of? Conor McGregor. That’s what Conor McGregor did. He came in. He stayed active. He built up a lot of notoriety. Had some great fights. People knew his name and people wanted to see him fight,” said White.

“Israel Adesanya is on that same trajectory right now. He’s doing the exact same thing Conor did.”

Adesanya became an interim champion in just his sixth UFC bout, as did McGregor. Now he hopes to continue in McGregor’s footsteps to become the undisputed champion and one of the sport’s biggest stars. With a style that is reminiscent of Anderson Silva and Jon Jones and a personality that tends to electrify fans, Adesanya has superstar potential, just like McGregor.

Another thing that White likes about Adesanya that likens him to McGregor is his willingness to fight. McGregor has been much more choosy about who and when in recent years, but as he was building his star power, McGregor was willing to fight anyone, any time.

TRENDING UFC 236 fight highlights: Israel Adesanya bloodies Kelvin Gastelum to claim the belt

“You know what Israel doesn’t say when we call him? He doesn’t say no, I’m on vacation. I’m not gonna show up and fight for a belt and then possibly get a shot at the champion, and then get pay-per-view money,” White said.

“He says, yeah, I’ll see you in Atlanta. And when you have that type of confidence in yourself, it pays off. It’s definitely gonna pay off for him.”

In many ways, it already has paid off for Adesanya. People now know his name and he has gold wrapped around his waste. His next bout will be accompanied by pay-per-view points and could begin to etch his name as one of the UFC’s middleweight greats.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dana-white-compares-israel-adesanyas-meteoric-rise-to-conor-mcgregor