Michelle Waterson Picks Claudia Gadelha Over Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Michelle Waterson Picks Claudia Gadelha Over Joanna Jedrzejczyk
UFC strawweight star Michelle Waterson gives FloCombat her pick the upcoming title bout between Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadhela.
By Jim Edwards
UFC strawweight Michelle Waterson guest features for FloCombat this week providing her analysis of the three women's fights at UFC International Fight Week. Watersons starts with Joanna Jedrzejczyk versus Claudia Gadelha for the UFC strawweight title at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale on Friday night.
"Joanna's greatest strength is obviously her striking but I also really like her ability to change her gameplan so that she's the one constantly being the aggressor in the fight," Waterson said. "I think that Joanna has such a strong mindset and her standup is no doubt one of the best in the UFC, in my opinion. I have to say, she's also pretty good at intimidating her opponents before they get into the cage."
The Ultimate Fighter 23 series has aired numerous spats between the two coaches with Jedrzejczyk on more than one occasion appearing to be the aggressor with the mind games.
While Waterson believes that Joanna is one of the best in the game at intimidating her opponents, she thinks she may have met her match with Gadelha and that the Pole hasn't been so successful with her usual antics this time around.
"I don't think she's got into Claudia's head," Waterson said. "I think that Claudia is a seasoned veteran that has been fighting professionally now for a really long time and I think that she is a true martial artist who understands the roots of martial arts.
"I think Claudia is past all that and that she fights for a different reason. Joanna has tried her best, but I think everyone has seen that she's been getting frustrated that Claudia isn't intimidated by her."
While believing that Gadelha will remain unaffected by the mind games, Waterson also believes that she holds key advantages in combat and that like the first time the two ladies met in 2014, this fight could well be on a knife edge.
"I think Claudia is the more well-rounded of the two," Waterson said. "I don't think her striking is as crisp as Joanna's, but as far as being a well-rounded MMA fighter, I think Claudia is the better of the two.
"I think we have the best fight between the two best ladies in the division right now and if you look back at the first fight between them it was a close split decision. I think it could've easily been called one way or the other but I personally like stand up fighters so I did give that fight to Joanna on that night. I will say that I can see how someone could've given that fight to Claudia and I'm expecting it to be just as close the second time around."
The oddsmakers currently have Jedrzejczyk as the favourite but Waterson was adamant things weren't so straight forward.
"I feel that it's really important to remember that there has been a lot of time since their first fight and I think that both women have improved considerably," Waterson said. "I'm really eager to see the changes that Claudia will make this around to try and beat Joanna.
After a long pause for further thought, Waterson gave her pick: "I'm going for Claudia Gadhela by decision. I think she is going to make the right adjustments but I think it's going to be really close and I'm sure it will go all five rounds."
Having been thoughtful in her decision making for her prediction for Friday night, Waterson needed no time whatsoever to think about whether she could beat either of them herself.
"Of course I will," Waterson said without a second of hesitation.
Michelle Waterson Official Pick: Claudia Gadelha def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via decision
UFC strawweight Michelle Waterson guest features for FloCombat this week providing her analysis of the three women's fights at UFC International Fight Week. Watersons starts with Joanna Jedrzejczyk versus Claudia Gadelha for the UFC strawweight title at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale on Friday night.
"Joanna's greatest strength is obviously her striking but I also really like her ability to change her gameplan so that she's the one constantly being the aggressor in the fight," Waterson said. "I think that Joanna has such a strong mindset and her standup is no doubt one of the best in the UFC, in my opinion. I have to say, she's also pretty good at intimidating her opponents before they get into the cage."
The Ultimate Fighter 23 series has aired numerous spats between the two coaches with Jedrzejczyk on more than one occasion appearing to be the aggressor with the mind games.
While Waterson believes that Joanna is one of the best in the game at intimidating her opponents, she thinks she may have met her match with Gadelha and that the Pole hasn't been so successful with her usual antics this time around.
"I don't think she's got into Claudia's head," Waterson said. "I think that Claudia is a seasoned veteran that has been fighting professionally now for a really long time and I think that she is a true martial artist who understands the roots of martial arts.
"I think Claudia is past all that and that she fights for a different reason. Joanna has tried her best, but I think everyone has seen that she's been getting frustrated that Claudia isn't intimidated by her."
While believing that Gadelha will remain unaffected by the mind games, Waterson also believes that she holds key advantages in combat and that like the first time the two ladies met in 2014, this fight could well be on a knife edge.
"I think Claudia is the more well-rounded of the two," Waterson said. "I don't think her striking is as crisp as Joanna's, but as far as being a well-rounded MMA fighter, I think Claudia is the better of the two.
"I think we have the best fight between the two best ladies in the division right now and if you look back at the first fight between them it was a close split decision. I think it could've easily been called one way or the other but I personally like stand up fighters so I did give that fight to Joanna on that night. I will say that I can see how someone could've given that fight to Claudia and I'm expecting it to be just as close the second time around."
The oddsmakers currently have Jedrzejczyk as the favourite but Waterson was adamant things weren't so straight forward.
"I feel that it's really important to remember that there has been a lot of time since their first fight and I think that both women have improved considerably," Waterson said. "I'm really eager to see the changes that Claudia will make this around to try and beat Joanna.
After a long pause for further thought, Waterson gave her pick: "I'm going for Claudia Gadhela by decision. I think she is going to make the right adjustments but I think it's going to be really close and I'm sure it will go all five rounds."
Having been thoughtful in her decision making for her prediction for Friday night, Waterson needed no time whatsoever to think about whether she could beat either of them herself.
"Of course I will," Waterson said without a second of hesitation.
Michelle Waterson Official Pick: Claudia Gadelha def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via decision