An intriguing strawweight showdown between Michelle
Waterson and Amanda
Ribas is on tap for UFC 257 on Jan. 23.
ESPN was first to report the booking. UFC 257 does not yet have
a location or venue but will reportedly be headlined by a
lightweight tilt between Conor
McGregor and Dustin
Poirier. That contest has not been finalized, however.
Waterson is coming off her third headlining appearance in the Las
Vegas-based promotion, as she edged Angela Hill
via split decision in the UFC Fight Night 177 main event on Sept.
12. That snapped a two-bout skid for “The Karate Hottie,” who had
previously dropped back-to-back bouts against Carla
Esparza and Joanna
Jedrzejczyk.
The 27-year-old Ribas has emerged as an interesting prospect at 115
pounds following victories in her first four Octagon appearances.
The Brazilian last competed at UFC 251, where she submitted
Paige
VanZant in the opening stanza at UFC 251 on July 11.