GLENDALE, Ariz. – Michelle Waterson found herself in one bad situation after another but gutted through every one of them en route to a hard-fought split-decision win over Cortney Casey.

The women’s strawweight bout opened up the main card of today’s UFC on FOX 29 event at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., near Phoenix. It aired on FOX following prelims on FOX and UFC Fight Pass.

Waterson moved well to start, shifting laterally on the outside and looking to dart in and out of her taller opponent’s range. Casey did her best to cut off the cage and bully her smaller foe, landing a big left hand early that seemed to catch Waterson’s attention. A big right followed shortly after, and it appeared Waterson was going to be badly outgunned.

Waterson tried to use kicks from range to extend her attacks, but Casey was able to push through and work inside. Once there, though, it was Waterson who was able to get the takedown and settle into top position. Casey quickly worked into an armbar attempt, but Waterson was able to keep har hands latched and escape the hold. Waterson finished the round striking from the top, stealing the momentum before the bell.

Waterson chopped at the leg to open the second, but Casey returned fire with big punches over the top before moving inside and landing in close. Once back at range, Waterson did land a clean left that stunned her foe briefly, but Casey was willing to walk through the shots to deliver her own. Waterson answered by switching to a single and bringing her opponent to the floor yet again.

Casey threatened from her back with another armbar that Waterson escaped after a few very tense moments, as well as a second attempt that was far less threatening. A third attempt looked briefly tight, as well, especially when she went belly down, but Waterson stepped over and escaped yet again. The two scrambled back to the feet in the closing seconds, and a Waterson push kick saw Casey tumble to the floor just before the bell.

Casey looked to brawl in the third, though a Waterson high kick slapped her in the cheek. Casey continued to press forward with big shots, again finding herself in the clinch, where Waterson did a fine job of tying things up inside. Waterson continued to use kicks at range, but Casey pressed through them to attack. Waterson again scored a trip with relative ease, though Casey immediately turned to the right arm. With Waterson’s defense again sound, Casey looked for a leg but also couldn’t get the torque needed.

Once free, Waterson returned to the feet and scored with a crowd-pleasing high kick, but Casey seemed unfazed. Waterson shot again on a single and tried to turn the corner, but Casey was able to sprawl out and hold control from the front, eventually spinning around to the back and punching to the body. Casey briefly held the beck before once agains switching to an armbar, breaking her opponent’s grip just before the bell but not quite getting the tap. It would cost her, as Waterson ultimately took the fight on two of the three judges’ cards, earning a split-decision win.

Waterson (15-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) snaps a two-fight losing streak with the much-needed result, while Casey (7-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC) has now suffered back-to-back split-decision losses.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on FOX 29 results include:

• Michelle Waterson def. Cortney Casey via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Antonio Carlos Junior def. Tim Boetsch via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:28
• Muslim Salikhov def. Ricky Rainey via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 4:12
• John Moraga def. Wilson Reis via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Brad Tavares def. Krzysztof Jotko via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:16
• Gilbert Burns def. Dan Moret via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 0:59
• Lauren Mueller def. Shana Dobson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Yushin Okami def. Dhiego Lima via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
• Adam Wieczorek def. Arjan Bhullar via submission (omo plata) – Round 2, 1:59
• Alejandro Perez def. Matthew Lopez via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:42
• Luke Sanders def. Patrick Williams via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 29, check out the UFC Events section of the site.