MMA community reacts to Michelle Waterson’s submission of Paige VanZant

Saturday night in the main event of ‘UFC Fight Night: Sacramento’ women’s strawweight prospects Paige VanZant and Michelle Waterson stepped into the Octagon for a highly anticipated showdown which likely would see the winner catapulted into the top 5 of the women’s strawweight division.

While VanZant came out of the gate looking extremely quick, Waterson managed to land a throw from the clinch and ultimately submit VanZant in the very first round with a rear-naked choke. The win marked the second of Waterson’s UFC career, and also marked a successful return to the Octagon following a seventeen month layoff.

Immediately, the MMA community went wild on social media:

So much pep in Paige's step! What a little energizer bunny. 🐰 #UFCSacramento

— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) December 18, 2016

Amazon head and arm throw from Waterson and transition to the back #UFCSacramento

— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) December 18, 2016

GOOD

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) December 18, 2016

Fuck yes @karatehottiemma

— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) December 18, 2016

Pull your shoulders back!!!!

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) December 18, 2016

Wow!!! Jiu-Jitsu hottie? #UFCSacramento

— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) December 18, 2016

Damnnnnn @karatehottiemma

— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) December 18, 2016

Smooth!!!!!!! @karatehottiemma #flawlessvictory

— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) December 18, 2016

Damn. Impressive @karatehottiemma

— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) December 18, 2016

Nice work @karatehottiemma! You looked amazing! #UFCSacramento

— Shannon Knapp (@shanknapp) December 18, 2016

At least one of the vanilla twins got some heart. #SuperTapper

— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) December 18, 2016

That's how you try to defend a RNC. PVZ never quits in tough positions. Congrats to Watterson! NASTY headlock & backtake 👊🏾 #UFCSacramento

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) December 18, 2016

Jessica Penne fights the #1 and #5 girls and is ranked lower than PVZ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #UFCSacramento #JustSayin

— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) December 18, 2016

@karatehottiemma great win!

— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) December 18, 2016

Wow! @karatehottiemma ?? How bout the Submission Sultress? #UFCSacremento

— Stephan Bonnar (@StephanBonnar) December 18, 2016

Paige just needs more time. Anyone who thought she was gonna hang with a true Vet/world champion like Waterson is ignorant to the sport

— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) December 18, 2016

Wrong again….. good job @karatehottiemma ! Sorry @PaigeVanzantUFC I can't pick a fight ever

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 18, 2016

SENSATIONAL victory for @karatehottiemma!! Congrats!!

— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) December 18, 2016