Rose Namajunas regarded arguably one of the best she has ever checked out flyweight in the primary occasion of UFC Battle Evening Denver, taking a transparent unanimous determination win over Tracy Cortez.
Namajunas dropped Cortez, who took this combat on brief discover, within the opening minutes of the combat. The previous two-time strawweight champion subsequently placed on a placing clinic, preserving her distance and touchdown on her opponent whichever means potential.
Cortez battled again along with her grappling, however Namajunas answered along with her personal abilities. The #11-ranked contender tried to mount loads of offense within the fifth spherical, however by then it was too late.
Although she will be able to at all times pinpoint issues in her efficiency to nitpick, Namajunas instructed the crew on ESPN’s UFC Put up Present that she was glad with how she did within the cage.
“I felt actually pleased with myself, however…Tracy’s actually robust,” Namajunas mentioned. “She positively was sturdy. Although I dropped her to start with, I knew I most likely ought to have jumped on her immediately as a result of I let her recuperate slightly bit.
“In the end, I simply felt I used to be higher,” Namajunas added.
Rose Namajunas Hopes To Carry The UFC To Lithuania
Namajunas moved as much as flyweight in late 2023, a couple of year-and-a-half faraway from shedding the UFC strawweight title to Carla Esparza at UFC 274. “Thug Rose” fell to defeat in her 125-pound debut in opposition to Manon Fiorot however has now gained back-to-back fights. Previous to Saturday’s win, she beat Amanda Ribas in a March Battle Evening fundamental occasion.
The previous 115-pound champ entered this combat at No. 6 within the flyweight rankings. Positioned above her are champion Alexa Grasso, former champion and upcoming title challenger Valentina Shevchenko, Fiorot, Erin Blanchfield, Maycee Barber, and former strawweight champion and flyweight title challenger Jéssica Andrade.
Namajunas feels prepared for a crack on the gold now, although she expressed curiosity in making an attempt to get a win again over Fiorot. Be it a rematch with the Frenchwoman or title shot, Namajunas has an concept for an fascinating location she would like to see the UFC host a card: Lithuania.
“I had this imaginative and prescient…I wish to combat in Lithuania in the future, convey the UFC to Lithuania if that would even be potential,” Namajunas mentioned. “I might like to rematch Manon or [face] anyone for the belt, no matter. That’s my dream come true, however something the UFC has in thoughts, I’m cool with.”
Lithuania is the house nation of Namajunas’ mother and father. The UFC is but to stage an occasion within the European nation.
