“When you take yourself out of the present moment and start looking at that, that’s having a great analytical mind, and when you’re in your analytical mind, you’re not able to react, you’re not able to fight, and you’re not able to get in the zone,” she said. “Obviously, those things play a factor because it is a career at the end of the day and you are providing income for your family, but I have to be in the moment. I have to be able to get in the zone so I show up and deal with what’s in front of me, which is an opponent that’s been training for me, and that’s trying to climb up the ladder, so I gotta take care of that, first and foremost.”
MORE On UFC Fight Night Columbus
That attitude has allowed New Mexico’s Waterson to not only make it to the top of the sport, but to stay there. In February, she will mark the 15-year anniversary of her pro debut, and that’s a string of longevity that is something to be proud of.
“That’s insane,” she laughs. “You know, it’s funny because I haven’t looked at it for the 15 years, but I did the 10-year challenge and I kind of looked back – at this point 10 years ago, my daughter was just born and I was getting my body back into shape to pursue my dream. It was an amazing time, and a decade later, I’m still doing what I love and I’m still in my prime, and I’m loving life.”
And 15 years after decisioning Andrea Miller in a Ring of Fire show in 2007, she still checks those boxes. So what’s secret?