Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson planned for move to May 9th. UFC event

Photo Credit: UFC

Originally slated for the since cancelled UFC Fight Night Portland card on April 11th., a clash between two former world champions is now planned to take place on the promotion's next hoped outing on May 9th. Inaugural UFC strawweight champion, Carla 'Cookie Monster' Esparza, has retained her clash with former Invicta FC atomweight best, Michelle 'The Karate Hottie' Waterson. News of the targeted strawweight match was initially penned by ESPN reporter, Brett Okamoto.

Sport mainstays, Esparza and Waterson were scheduled to throw-down at UFC Fight Night Portland - but after promotion president, Dana White's arm was turned to cancel and indefinitely postpone events, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic - the bout has since been moved to May 9th.

Talented wrestler, Esparza, has put recent blunders against Cláudia Gadelha and Tatiana Suarez behind here, rebounding with decision wins over Virna Jandiroba and an especially close judging against Alexa Grasso at UFC Fight Night Mexico City last September. The 32-year-old managed to make Octagon history as she became the promotion's first 115-pound gold-holder, via a submission stoppage of a future champion, 'Thug' Rose Namajunas back in 2014. As well as a win over Namajunas, Esparza has notched triumphs over the likes of Cynthia Calvillo, Felice Herrig, and Nina Ansaroff. 

Jackson-Wink MMA staple, Waterson, was in touching distance of earning her premier promotional title tilt in her most recent outing. In what turned out to be a title eliminator, Waterson dropped a largely one-sided defeat to former champion, Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC Fight Night Tampa in October. Before the blemish, the 34-year-old Colorado native had managed a winning streak consisting of Cortney Casey, the previously noted, Herrig, and one-time title challenger, Karolina Kowalkiewicz. 

Waterson arrived in the UFC back in 2015, debuting with a rear-naked choke win over Angela Magaña - having successfully claimed the Invicta FC 105=pound title from future strawweight title chaser, Jessica Penne.

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