Michelle Waterson stood in the center of the Octagon, taking a second to compose herself as Jon Anik began their post-fight interview.
Moments earlier, Bruce Buffer made official what everyone in Philadelphia and watching at home already knew: that Waterson had dominated all three rounds of her crucial clash against former title challenger and perennial contender Karolina Kowalkiewicz, simultaneously earning the biggest victory of her career and putting herself in the thick of the title chase in the strawweight division.
When Anik ended their conversation with his patented inquiry about who the veteran contender would like to face next, Waterson cooly and calmly delivered her message:
“I want to go get that gold, whoever it is.