Saturday, May 9, 2020VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, United States
Carla Esparza defeated Michelle Waterson-Gomez by Split Decision in round 3 (5:00) in the Women's Strawweight bout of UFC 249: Ferguson vs Gaethje, held Saturday, May 9, 2020 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville. The judges scored it 29-28, 30-27, 27-30, Carla Esparza won the decision.
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Carla Esparza vs Michelle Waterson-Gomez
Fight stats: totals
Same scale left and right on every row; the pale tail behind a bar is attempts
Carla EsparzaMichelle Waterson-Gomez
0
Knockdowns0
45 / 103
Significant strikes44 / 98
44%
Sig. strike accuracy45%
48 / 106
Total strikes44 / 98
1 / 10
Takedowns0 / 0
0:46
Control time0:00
Where it landed
Significant strikes landed by target in this fight
Carla EsparzaMichelle Waterson-Gomez
3476%1534%
Head
613%1330%
Body
511%1636%
Leg
Where it happened
Where the landed significant strikes came from
Carla Esparza
87%11%
Michelle Waterson-Gomez
89%11%
■ Distance■ Clinch■ Ground
Range × target
Significant strikes landed by range and target in this fight · landed / attempted in each cell
Carla Esparza45 landed
Head
Body
Leg
Distance
3131/82
33/5
55/7
Clinch
22/5
33/3
0
Ground
11/1
0
0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez44 landed
Head
Body
Leg
Distance
1515/59
88/11
1616/22
Clinch
00/1
55/5
0
Ground
0
0
0
Round by round
Significant strikes landed per round · the judges' scores under each
Carla EsparzaMichelle Waterson-Gomez
R1
5
9
10-910-910-9
R2
15
13
10-910-910-9
R3
25
22
10-910-910-9
Bars share one scale across rounds. Each chip is one judge's score for the round, coloured by who they gave it to.
Round 1Judges: Carla Esparza
0
Knockdowns0
5 / 18
Significant strikes9 / 28
28%
Sig. strike accuracy32%
7 / 20
Total strikes9 / 28
1 / 1
Takedowns0 / 0
0:35
Control time0:00
Round 2Judges: Michelle Waterson-Gomez
0
Knockdowns0
15 / 31
Significant strikes13 / 26
48%
Sig. strike accuracy50%
16 / 32
Total strikes13 / 26
0 / 3
Takedowns0 / 0
0:00
Control time0:00
Round 3Judges: Carla Esparza
0
Knockdowns0
25 / 54
Significant strikes22 / 44
46%
Sig. strike accuracy50%
25 / 54
Total strikes22 / 44
0 / 6
Takedowns0 / 0
0:11
Control time0:00
Judges' Scorecards
Media Scores
8
Carla Esparza
9
Michelle Waterson-Gomez
●29-28 Esparza×8●29-28 Waterson-Gomez×8●30-27 Waterson-Gomez
All 17 media scorecards
- MMABrasil.com.br29-28Esparza
- MMAMania.com29-28Esparza
- Tristen Critchfield · Sherdog.com29-28Esparza
- Jay Pettry · Sherdog.com29-28Esparza
- Keith Shillan · Sherdog.com29-28Esparza
- Paul Fontaine · WrestlingObserver.com29-28Esparza
- Danny Segura · MMAJunkie.com29-28Esparza
- John Pollock · POST Wrestling29-28Esparza
- Chris Connor · The Fight City29-28Waterson-Gomez
- Greg Rosenstein · The Athletic29-28Waterson-Gomez
- Tim Burke · BloodyElbow.com29-28Waterson-Gomez
- Rob Tatum · CombatPress.com29-28Waterson-Gomez
- Dayne Fox · BloodyElbow.com29-28Waterson-Gomez
- SevereMMA.com29-28Waterson-Gomez
- Mike Sloan · Sherdog.com29-28Waterson-Gomez
- MMAJunkie.com29-28Waterson-Gomez
- Ryan Frederick · WrestlingObserver.com30-27Waterson-Gomez
Fan Scorecards
181 fan scorecards submitted
43%
Carla Esparza
1%
Draw
56%
Michelle Waterson-Gomez
●29-28 Waterson-Gomez38.1%●29-28 Esparza37.6%●30-27 Waterson-Gomez17.7%●30-27 Esparza4.4%
Fans' round-by-round verdict
R1
50%
Esparza
R2
82%
Waterson-Gomez
R3
61%
Esparza
Insights
- Michelle Waterson-Gomez absorbs 4.54 significant strikes a minute, more than 81% of UFC fighters.
- Carla Esparza lands 3.28 takedowns per 15 minutes, more than 90% of UFC fighters.
Style & credentials
Carla Esparza
Freestyle WrestlingBJJ
- —Brown belt · BJJ
- 2013Competitor · IBJJF Pansblue belt featherweight (gi)
- 2009All-American · Wcwa Nationals
- 2008All-American · Wcwa Nationals
Michelle Waterson-Gomez
No background on record
Camp · Jackson-Wink MMA · United StatesSig. strikes by zone
Where each fighter lands, as a share of significant strikes
74%47%
Head
14%28%
Body
12%25%
Leg
Time in position
Share of fight time at distance, in the clinch and on the ground
Carla Esparzalast 2 fights
64%12%24%
Michelle Waterson-Gomezlast 4 fights
49%23%28%
■ Distance■ Clinch■ Ground
How good, really
Each stat against every UFC fighter, in plain words
Carla Esparza· from fights outside the UFC Michelle Waterson-Gomez· from fights outside the UFC
Strikes landed / min
2.193.57
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Carla Esparza · Poor · better than 15% of UFC fightersMichelle Waterson-Gomez · Average · better than 57% of UFC fighters
Strikes taken / minfewer is better
2.874.54
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Carla Esparza · Good · better than 69% of UFC fightersMichelle Waterson-Gomez · Poor · better than 19% of UFC fighters
Takedowns landed / 15 min
3.281.31
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Carla Esparza · Elite · better than 90% of UFC fightersMichelle Waterson-Gomez · Average · better than 54% of UFC fighters
Takedown accuracy
36%30%
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Carla Esparza · Average · better than 45% of UFC fightersMichelle Waterson-Gomez · Below avg · better than 30% of UFC fighters
Takedown defence
47%70%
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Carla Esparza · Below avg · better than 21% of UFC fightersMichelle Waterson-Gomez · Good · better than 64% of UFC fighters
Submission attempts / 15 min
0.300.50
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Carla Esparza · Average · better than 40% of UFC fightersMichelle Waterson-Gomez · Average · better than 56% of UFC fighters
Ranked against 1483 UFC fighters with five or more UFC fights.
Striking & grappling
Same scale left and right on every row
2.19
Strikes landed / min3.57
2.87
Strikes taken / minfewer is better4.54
3.28 / 9.1
Takedowns landed / 15 min1.31 / 4.4
36%
Takedown accuracy30%
47%
Takedown defence70%
3:58
Control time / fight2:39
0.30
Submission attempts / 15 min0.50
Bars in a row share one scale. The stronger side is solid; the pale tail behind takedowns is attempts.
Where the strikes land
Range × target
Carla Esparza15 UFC fights · 402 landed
Head
Body
Leg
Distance
44%176/689
4%18/34
8%34/42
Clinch
4%18/37
7%30/38
0%1/3
Ground
26%106/153
3%14/14
1%5/9
Michelle Waterson-Gomez14 UFC fights · 733 landed
Head
Body
Leg
Distance
29%215/892
18%129/227
24%177/261
Clinch
8%58/82
10%72/81
1%7/7
Ground
9%68/86
1%6/6
0%1/1
Share of significant strikes landed by range and target · landed / attempted in each cell.
When it ends
Every early finish of their careers, placed at the minute it ended
Carla Esparza12 of 27 ended early · 44%15 went the distance
R1R2R3R4R5
4 early stoppages have no logged time
Michelle Waterson-Gomez18 of 31 ended early · 58%13 went the distance
R1R2R3R4R5
7 early stoppages have no logged time
finished the opponent got finished· placed at the minute the fight ended
Recent form · last 5
Carla Esparza3-2
- LUFC 307: Pereira vs Rountree Jr. · Oct 5, 2024Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- L
- WUFC 274: Oliveira vs Gaethje · May 7, 2022Split Decision · R5 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- W
- WUFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Till · Jul 26, 2020Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
Full record · 27 fightsShow less
- WUFC 249: Ferguson vs Gaethje · May 9, 2020Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- WUFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs Stephens · Sep 21, 2019MD · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- WUFC Fight Night: Jacare vs Hermansson · Apr 27, 2019Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- L
- LUFC 225: Whittaker vs Romero · Jun 9, 2018Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- WUFC 219: Cyborg vs Holm · Dec 30, 2017Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- WUFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs Lee · Jun 25, 2017Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- LUFC Fight Night: Lewis vs Browne · Feb 19, 2017Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- WUFC 197: Jones vs Saint Preux · Apr 23, 2016Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- L
- WThe Ultimate Fighter Finale: A Champion Will Be Crowned · Dec 12, 2014Submission · R3 · 1:26 · Women's Strawweight
- W
- WLynn AlvarezInvicta FC 3 · Oct 6, 2012TKO · R1 · 2:53 · Strawweight
- WSarah SchneiderInvicta FC 2 · Jul 28, 2012TKO · R2 · 4:28 · Strawweight
- W
- LBFC: Bellator Fighting Championships 46 · Jun 25, 2011Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- WYadira AnzalduaEvolution Combat Sports Championship · Apr 15, 2011Submission
- W
- L
- WLacey SchuckmanAnnhilation · Jul 16, 2010Submission
- WKarina HallinanLong Beach Fight Night · Apr 18, 2010Submission
- WCassie TrostRespect in the Cage · Feb 19, 2010Submission
Michelle Waterson-Gomez0-5
- LUFC 303: Pereira vs Procházka 2 · Jun 29, 2024Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- LUFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Gamrot · Sep 23, 2023TKO · R2 · 2:42 · Women's Strawweight
- LUFC 287: Pereira vs Adesanya 2 · Apr 8, 2023Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- LUFC Fight Night: Ortega vs Rodriguez · Jul 16, 2022Submission · R2 · 1:48 · Women's Strawweight
- LUFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs Waterson - Event · May 8, 2021Unanimous Decision · R5 · 5:00 · Women's Flyweight
Full record · 31 fightsShow less
- WUFC Fight Night: Waterson vs Hill · Sep 12, 2020Split Decision · R5 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- LUFC 249: Ferguson vs Gaethje · May 9, 2020Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- LUFC Fight Night: Joanna vs Waterson · Oct 12, 2019Unanimous Decision · R5 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- WUFC Fight Night: Barboza vs Gaethje · Mar 30, 2019Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- WUFC 229: Khabib vs McGregor · Oct 6, 2018Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- WUFC Fight Night: Poirier vs Gaethje · Apr 14, 2018Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- LUFC 218: Holloway vs Aldo 2 · Dec 2, 2017Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Women's Strawweight
- LUFC Fight Night: Johnson vs Reis · Apr 15, 2017Submission · R2 · 2:47 · Women's Strawweight
- WUFC Fight Night: VanZant vs Waterson · Dec 17, 2016Submission · R1 · 3:21 · Women's Strawweight
- WThe Ultimate Fighter Finale: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians · Jul 12, 2015Submission · R3 · 2:38 · Women's Strawweight
- LHerica TiburcioInvicta FC 10 · Dec 5, 2014Submission · R3 · 1:04 · Atomweight
- WYasuko TamadaInvicta FC 8 · Sep 6, 2014TKO · R3 · 4:58 · Atomweight
- W
- WLacey SchuckmanInvicta FC 3 · Oct 6, 2012Split Decision · Atomweight
- WDiana RaelJackson's MMA Series 7 · Jan 21, 2012Submission · R1 · 2:12 · Strawweight
- WMasako YoshidaCrowbar MMA · Apr 24, 2010TKO
- WTBAExtreme Beatdown · Feb 13, 2010Submission
- LElena ReidArizona Regional · Apr 11, 2009TKO
- WKarina TaylorNew Mexico Regional · Mar 14, 2009Submission
- WTyra ParkerStrikeforce: Payback · Oct 2, 2008Submission · R1 · 1:20 · Catchweight
- WKrystal MacatolNew Mexico Regional · Aug 23, 2008Submission
- WThricia PooveyKOTC Underground 23 · Jul 12, 2008TKO · R2 · 5:00 · Flyweight
- LLynn AlvarezRing of Fire · Dec 1, 2007Submission
- WTBARing of Fire · Sep 15, 2007Submission
- LAlicia GummRocky Mountain Bad Boyz · Jun 30, 2007DEC
- WAndrea MillerRing of Fire · Feb 16, 2007DEC
Frequently asked questions
Who won Carla Esparza vs Michelle Waterson-Gomez?
Carla Esparza defeated Michelle Waterson-Gomez by Split Decision in round 3 (5:00) in the Women's Strawweight bout of UFC 249: Ferguson vs Gaethje, held Saturday, May 9, 2020 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville. The judges scored it 29-28, 30-27, 27-30, Carla Esparza won the decision.
What were the judges' scorecards for Carla Esparza vs Michelle Waterson-Gomez?
The judges scored it 29-28, 30-27, 27-30, Carla Esparza won the decision.
Was Carla Esparza vs Michelle Waterson-Gomez a robbery?
Many scored it for Michelle Waterson-Gomez: 56% of 181 fan cards scored it for Michelle Waterson-Gomez; 53% of 17 media scores picked Michelle Waterson-Gomez. The judges gave it to Carla Esparza.