Former UFC star Michelle Waterson-Gomez's fighting retirement can be short-lived after receiving an intriguing comeback offer.
MMA pioneer of women Michelle Waterson-Gomez chose to hang the gloves after a loss for Gillian Robertson on UFC 303 last year. The elite striker lost five consecutive fights on its way from the UFC, including interruption reports for Amanda Lemos and Marina Rodriguez.
Waterson-Gomez was once considered one of the best pound-for-pound hunters in MMA for women, after victories against people such as Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Paige Vanzant and Angela Hill. Despite her praises, she chose to walk away from fighting to pursue other career opportunities.
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Michelle Waterson-Gomez admits that he seduces comeback 'Seductive' in New Arena '
Fast forward to 2025, and Waterson-Gomez is a common presence on UFC Pre and Post-Fight Show broadcasts. While she has seamlessly moved to the employment agency, she still has the competitive fire that she showed in her career, and a chance that recently offered herself to fight again.
In a recent interview with MMA fights, Waterson-Gomez shared a recent discussion with former UFC champion Bas Rutten who has about a potential comeback.
“It's always tempting,” said Waterson-Gomez. “I did something in ring that announced for Karate Combat and I talk to Bas [Rutten] And he is like: “You have to come in, this is perfect for you, this is your wheelhouse!” It is absolutely tempting. The competitor in me and the hunter in me is like wondering.
“But I have also realized, all these other things I am trying to start, to be an analyst for the UFC, to get into the acting world, it requires just as much dedication, and if I want to go, I must also be able to devote myself to those things.”
Waterson-Gomez continued to open some of the struggles she has suffered since they retired.
“You become a hunter, you become a warrior and when you get off, you miss it. You go through withdrawals. You go through depression. There are so many things you go through,” Waterson-Gomez revealed. “But luckily I have a great husband, a great family and support team behind me to help me move to the next chapter and put so much energy in all the other efforts that I do as much as I was in fighting.”
Waterson-Gomez played earlier this year as a Post-Vecht Interviewer at various Karate Combat events. If she chooses to return to fighting in the KC -Put, she becomes the latest UFC veteran to make the switch and become a member of Luke Rockhold and Sam Alvey.
Waterson-Gomez started training Karate when she was 10 years old, a discipline that led her to some of her greatest UFC victories.
Michelle Waterson-Gomez was one of the various UFC fan favorites to hang out the gloves last year
At the time of her retirement, Waterson-Gomez was one of the many prominent veterans who dropped the gloves in the Octagon in 2024. Dustin Poirier joined Waterson-Gomez and others in the Pension Rijk after his loss at UFC 318 last month.
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Title Challenger Anthony Smith announced his retirement after a loss for Mingyang Zhang in UFC Kansas City. Smith has since become a member of Waterson-Gomez and other TOP UFC Minds as a television analyst.
If Waterson-Gomez wants to return to fighting, it sounds like she has a logical option in karate fights. Time will learn or the temptation to return Waterson-Gomez will lead back to the competition.