4. Herica Tiburcio vs. Michelle Waterson
Invicta Fighting Championships 10
Dec. 5 | Houston
Tiburcio was not supposed to defeat Waterson at Invicta Fighting Championships 10, let alone make her tap via guillotine choke.
Meanwhile Tiburcio had fought exclusively in Brazil, accruing a three-fight winning streak and finishing six of her eight victories via submission. This amounted to an impressive start for her career, but few believed Waterson’s title reign was in jeopardy.
Tiburcio came out fearlessly against Waterson, attacking the champion and weathering the storm against several dangerous armbar attempts. Tiburcio began to swing momentum late in the opening round, where she beautifully swept into mount and scored a damaging right hand that caused visible damage to the left eye of Waterson. After more of the same in the second round, Tiburcio took down Waterson in the third and cinched the guillotine choke. The finish almost seemed to happen in slow motion, as it was hard to believe Waterson was being forced to submit. The two women embraced immediately, signifying the emotional release such a moment often brings about.
The win put Tiburcio on the map as a force to be reckoned with in the Invicta FC atomweight division.
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