Rose Namajunas has competed in numerous UFC title fights, but none hold the allure of competing for a championship in her ancestral homeland.
“Thug Rose” secured her second consecutive victory at 125 pounds on Saturday, headlining UFC Denver with a dominant decision win over Tracy Cortez. This victory marked Cortez’s first loss inside the octagon and further cemented Namajunas as a formidable contender in two weight classes.
Rose Namajunas done knocked down & punched the eyelash off Tracy Cortez damn face 🤣🤣🤣🤣 #UFCDenver pic.twitter.com/5WOPqcprpj
— JrRanks (@RealJrRanks) July 14, 2024
In a post-fight interview with ESPN, Namajunas shared her vision for her next title shot, ideally taking place in Lithuania, her parents’ home country. “I had this vision, I want to fight in Lithuania one day,” she revealed. “Bring the UFC to Lithuania, and I would love to rematch Manon [Fiorot] or anybody for the belt, whatever. That’s my dream come true, but anything that the UFC has in mind, I’m cool with as well.”
When asked how close she feels to a title shot, Namajunas confidently responded, “I’m ready whenever.”
During the post-fight press conference, Namajunas was questioned about the possibility of participating in the first-ever women’s “BMF” title fight, a topic she had playfully brought up during her in-cage interview after the fight. She clarified that it was mostly a joke, though she acknowledged her affection for former opponent Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Rose Namajunas says she could see herself fighting for the title “really soon” if she gets the win over Tracy Cortez this weekend 👀
🎥YT/@MMAJunkie #UFCDenver #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/83exgLaYXn
— FightCrack (@FightCrack) July 9, 2024
“I don’t know, I was just joking actually,” Namajunas said. “But I know Joanna [Jedrzejczyk] says she would come back for a women’s BMF, so that would just be for fun. I love her. I don’t know, I think I was just kind of joking there. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Namajunas and Jedrzejczyk share a storied rivalry, with Namajunas winning both of their championship bouts. Jedrzejczyk retired in 2022 and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2024.
Another potential opponent for Namajunas is former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade, with whom she has had a memorable two-fight series. Andrade won their first encounter with a brutal slam knockout, while Namajunas narrowly won their rematch by split decision.
Namajunas sees Andrade as a potential candidate for the BMF title, though her primary focus remains on becoming an undisputed champion in a second weight class.
https://t.co/hnHiVFh5So #UFCFightNight results: Rose Namajunas puts herself in the title picture with win over Tracy Cortez https://t.co/lyrvqj8nSs #UFC #BoxingVideos #boxing #sports #sportsbettingadvice pic.twitter.com/Ejbt5cccjY
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“That’s the one thing, is I would fight her maybe for another belt, and you saying that it’s like, ‘eh,’” Namajunas said. “But I want the real belt, so that’s interesting.”
Major Points:
- Victory in Denver: Rose Namajunas won her second consecutive fight at 125 pounds, defeating Tracy Cortez in the UFC Denver main event.
- Dream Fight in Lithuania: Namajunas expressed a desire to fight for a title in Lithuania, her ancestral homeland.
- Clarification on BMF Title: She clarified her comments about a women’s “BMF” title fight, mentioning it was mostly a joke, though she acknowledged interest from Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
- Potential Opponents: Namajunas discussed Jessica Andrade as a potential BMF opponent but emphasized her goal of securing a legitimate championship in a second weight class.
- Readiness for Title Shot: Namajunas declared she is ready for a flyweight title shot, aligning with her ambition to become a two-division UFC champion.
Conner T – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
