Waterson takes decisive victory

Albuquerque MMA fighter gets unanimous verdict

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Albuquerque MMA fighter Michelle Waterson dominated for most of three rounds Saturday night in defeating Felice Herrig by unanimous decision on UFC 229.

The official scores were 30-26, 30-27 and 29-28, all for Waterson (16-6). Herrig, of Buffalo Grove, Ill., is 14-8.

The fight was contested at the 115-pound strawweight limit.

“I’m so happy with my performance tonight,” Waterson said after the fight. “... My goal is to get that title shot, so I came in to prove that and get myself closer to that point.”

Waterson is ranked No. 8 among challengers to the UFC strawweight title, held by Rose Namajunas.

Herrig won the first round on one of the three official scorecards. Waterson was given a 10-8 score by one judge for dominance in the second round.

GONZALES MEANS WINS: In Shawnee, Okla., Moriarty MMA fighter Brenda Gonzales Means defeated Tamikka Brents by first-round TKO Friday night to claim the Freestyle Cage Fighting bantamweight title. Gonzales Means is 9-4. Brents is 2-4.

Brents had failed to make the 135-pound bantamweight limit, meaning only Gonzales Means had the opportunity to win the previously vacant title.

MARTINEZ-PINO SERVICES: A rosary, to be held in celebration of the life of Sandy Martinez-Pino is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 4020 Lomas NE. A funeral mass will be conducted at the same location Wednesday at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, 4120 Cutler NE.

Martinez-Pino, an administrator, judge and timekeeper whose contributions to New Mexico boxing spanned four decades, died on Sept. 28 after undergoing heart bypass surgery. She was 65.

MOREU LOSES: In Chattanooga, Tenn., Albuquerque middleweight amateur boxer Sharahya Moreu lost by first-round TKO to Germany’s Sarah Scheurich on Saturday during a U.S.-vs.-Germany competition.

Moments before the stoppage, Moreu was given a standing eight-count after taking a hard right hand from Scheurich. Then, another Scheurich right dropped Moreu to the canvas. The Albuquerque boxer quickly got to her feet and clearly wanted to continue, but the decision was made to stop the bout.

Moreu was giving up some six inches in height to Scheurich, a 6-foot-2 former European Championships silver and bronze medalist who turned 25 on Monday.