MMA Notebook: Waterson Wins by Split Decision, Archuleta Hands Mix First Loss

Michelle Waterson did just enough to win against Angela Hill at UFC Fight Night 177 on Saturday, earning a come-from-behind split-decision victory in the women’s strawweight main event.

Waterson won by a 48-47, 49-46, 47-48 decision after all three judges gave Hill the first round.

Waterson Overcomes Slow Start

Two of the three judges also awarded the second round to Hill. The momentum changed in the later rounds, however, with Waterson (18-8) taking down Hill and landing some strong ground-and-pound from controlling positions.

Both women had their moments in the fifth round, with one judge listing Hill as the winner of the final frame. Media members were nearly evenly split on the fight, with 11 of 21 seeing Hill (12-9) as the winner, according to MMADecisions.com.

“You never want to leave it in the hands of the judges,” Waterson said afterwards. “A split decision, it doesn’t leave a very good feeling in your stomach.”

The win broke a two-fight losing streak for Waterson, who wants to get back into the title race.

“I want to get to the belt as fast as possible,” she said.

Mix: ‘No Excuses’ for First Loss

Patchy Mix (13-1) suffered the first loss of his professional MMA career as Juan Archuleta defeated him at Bellator 246 to win the Bellator bantamweight title. Mix came out fast in the early rounds, but Archuleta dominated the second half of the fight after surviving the onslaught.

“Just feel like I tried to go for the finish in the first and second, I used a lot of energy, and I was rebuilding in the third,” Mix said after the loss. “He came strong in the third, the fourth, and the fifth, just like I knew he would. He’s got good cardio, a good team – no excuses on my end.”

Archuleta (25-2) claimed his first Bellator title with the win after previously having won championships in King of the Cage and smaller regional promotions.

Poirier: No Ferguson Fight for UFC 254

Dustin Poirier told ESPN last week that he won’t be fighting Tony Ferguson at UFC 254. The UFC planned to have the two top lightweight contenders fight as the co-main event under the lightweight title unification bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.

According to Poirier, he failed to come to terms with the UFC on his pay for the fight.

“I just need to be compensated if they want this fight,” Poirier told ESPN. “Simple as that. I’m a prizefighter, and the prize needs to be right.”

McGregor Camp Denies Sexual Assault Report

The Agence France Press (AFP) reported Saturday that authorities arrested and released retired UFC star Conor McGregor in Corsica, France on charges of attempted sexual assault and sexual exhibitionism. McGregor’s representatives pushed back strongly on the report.

“I am irate and putting out a warning loud and clear: Conor McGregor is not and will not be a target for those seeking to score a headline or a payday,” McGregor’s agent, Audie Attar, said, via ESPN.