5 female UFC fighters who are tougher than they look

#4 Michelle Waterson

Michelle Waterson's good looks have earned her her 'Karate Hottie' nickname

The fact that Michelle Waterson is known as ‘The Karate Hottie’ should tell you a lot about exactly why the Strawweight contender is far tougher than she looks. An MMA veteran dating back to 2007, Waterson also worked as a model from 2004 prior to taking up the sport full-time and rose to fame on the MTV kickboxing-themed reality show Fight Girls, which also starred Felice Herrig.

Waterson’s good looks and athletic build would admittedly suggest some kind of background in martial arts – which is accurate given she’s been practicing karate since the age of 10, hence the nickname – but at a glance, it’s hard to believe she’s ever been punched full-force in the face. Anyone who’s followed her UFC career would know that isn’t the case.

Waterson currently holds a UFC record of 4-2, but in most of her fights including her victories, she’s had to fight through plenty of adversity. Tough fights with Felice Herrig and Cortney Casey saw her edge judges’ decisions, while her loss to Rose Namajunas saw her badly hurt with a head kick before she was submitted. Win or lose, ‘The Karate Hottie’ is one of the toughest women in the UFC – belying her good looks.