Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs Luana Pinheiro 4/8/2023 Picks, Tips and Previews
Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs Luana Pinheiro will square it out in a UFC 287 pay-per-view scheduled for April 8, 2023. The female fighters are in the women’s strawweight division and are ranked in the top 15 of the UFC. They are scheduled to fight in Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida at 7 PM ET.
The bout will be between a veteran fighter in Waterson-Gomez, known to face the toughest opponents in the division, and a rising potential in Pinheiro, depicting a lot of promise in her young journey to greatness.
There is a chance for some strawweight prospects to make a rise up the ranks, and Pinheiro is one of the more intriguing talents at 115 pounds. A former judoka, Pinheiro has spent most of her career thus far running over the less athletic competition, as all but one of her pre-UFC victories came within a round.
The UFC is set to showcase a battle between Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Luana Pinheiro, two top 15 ranked fighters in the women’s strawweight division. The bout is scheduled for April 8, 2023, at the Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida at 7 PM ET.
Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs Luana Pinheiro 4/8/2023 Picks, Tips and Previews
Waterson-Gomez is a veteran fighter, known for taking on tough opponents in the division. Despite her diminutive frame, she has been able to find effectiveness as a speedy range striker and has added to that with a strong offensive wrestling and grappling game. While she has settled in as a gatekeeper to the upper tiers at 115 pounds, mostly due to her physical ceiling, she remains a relevant strawweight in the UFC.
On the other hand, Pinheiro is a rising star in the division, showing a lot of promise in her young journey to greatness. As a former judoka, she has spent most of her career thus far running over less athletic competition. She looked good in her UFC debut against Randa Markos, but things came to a sudden end when an illegal up-kick left her unable to continue. In her subsequent win over Sam Hughes, she showed off her judo skills and put together some solid work.
Despite Pinheiro’s potential, she is jumping right into a fight against ranked opposition. If she can use her aggressive striking and grappling abilities to exploit the striking that Waterson-Gomez showed in her last fight, she may be able to earn a victory. However, if Waterson-Gomez can stick to an evasive game plan for three rounds and utilize her experience and technical striking and grappling, she may come out on top.
Regardless, both fighters have well-rounded skill sets, and they are sure to deliver an exciting and competitive battle for UFC fans. The matchup between Waterson-Gomez and Pinheiro is one to watch as there is a chance for some strawweight prospects to make a rise up the ranks.
As of April 2023, Luana Pinheiro has a professional record of 9 wins and 1 loss, with 4 wins by knockout and 1 by submission. She is known for her aggressive fighting style and is considered one of the rising stars in the women’s strawweight division. Fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating her next fight and the possibility of her climbing up the UFC rankings.
Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs Luana Pinheiro
- Date: April 8
- Location: Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET (Main card)
- How to watch: ESPN+ PPV