Michelle Waterson: biography
Michelle Waterson is an American athlete of Thai origin, a mixed martial artist, and frequent participant of martial art shows. Michelle started her career as a model and also tried herself as an actress; however, fights remain her major activity.
Childhood and youth
Michelle Waterson was born on January 6, 1986, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Waterson has diverse roots: her father came from the Caucasus, and the mother was of the Thai origin. Michelle has a brother and a sister.
The would-be athlete grew up in Aurora, Colorado. In 2004, she graduated from school and entered the University of Denver; at the same time, the young woman worked part-time as a model. Soon, she realized that she would like to devote her life to sports and started building an MMA career.
Mixed martial arts
Michelle began to do karate at ten and gained the black belt later; she also learned wushu, Thai boxing, ju-jitsu, boxing, and wrestling. As a Thai boxing athlete, Waterson participated in the reality show Fight Girls on Oxygen channel. Besides, Michelle became one of the best fighters at Bully Beatdown on MTV.
In 2007, the woman stepped into the MMA world; Donald Cerrone assisted her. Waterson debuted on February 16, 2007, at Ring of Fire 28: Evolution and faced Andrea Miller. The jury unanimously decided to give the victory to Michelle. By the way, she had had no amateur fights before.
The same year, in December, the athlete fought the champion Lynn Alvarez but lost in the first round. In 2008, she debuted in Strikeforce against Tyra Parker. It took Michelle Waterson only one round to win by successful submission.
Michelle Waterson and her husband kiss their daughter. /VCG Photo
In March 2009, the sportswoman fought Karina Taylor at Duke City MMA Series 1 and won by armbar submission. However, luck is changeable: the next month, Waterson was knocked out in the second round by IFBA champion Elena Reid.
The following events were favorable for Michelle: she defeated Rosary Califano 15 seconds after the beginning and used a flying armbar. In April 2010, Waterson knocked out Masako Yoshida in the first round.
