Rose Namajunas News
Rose Namajunas issues statement on social media, Ronda Rousey and Joanna Jedrzejczyk send messages of support
Christopher Taylor - May 8, 2022
Rose Namajunas received messages of support from Ronda Rousey and Joanna Jedrzejczyk after issuing a statement on her title loss at UFC 274. Namajunas (11-5 MMA) put her UFC strawweight title on the line against Carla Esparza (19-6 MMA) in the co-headliner of last night’s pay-per-view event in Phoenix.
Dana White reacts to “weird fight” between Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza at UFC 274
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 8, 2022
Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza didn’t exactly have a barnburner and UFC President Dana White was just as confused as everyone else. Going into the UFC 274 card, Namajunas was the UFC Strawweight Champion. Esparza was looking to become a two-time titleholder. She was the inaugural UFC Strawweight Champion.
Rose Namajunas reacts to backlash following title loss to Carla Esparza at UFC 274
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 8, 2022
Rose Namajunas has gone off on those giving her flak for her performance at UFC 274. Namajunas put the UFC Strawweight Championship on the line against Carla Esparza on May 7. The title fight served as UFC 274’s co-main event. The action was held inside the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Pros react after Carla Esparza defeats Rose Namajunas at UFC 274
Chris Taylor - May 7, 2022
Tonight’s UFC 274 event was co-headlined by a women’s strawweight title fight rematch featuring Rose Namajunas taking on Carla Esparza. Namajunas (11-5 MMA) and Esparza (19-6 MMA) had previously met back in December of 2014, where it was ‘Cookie Monster’ who came out the victor by way of submission.
Rose Namajunas says praise from Mike Tyson is the “coolest thing” that’s happened on her MMA journey: “It was really surreal”
Susan Cox - May 5, 2022
Rose Namajunas is saying that the praise she received from Mike Tyson is the ‘coolest thing’ that’s happened to her on her MMA journey. It will be Rose Namajunas (12-4 MMA), the UFC women’s strawweight champion, going up against Carla Esparza (19-6 MMA) this coming Saturday, May 7th at UFC 274.
Sean Strickland takes aim at Pat ‘The Predator’ Barry for his relationship with Rose Namajunas
Susan Cox - May 4, 2022
Sean Strickland is taking aim at Pat ‘The Predator’ Barry for his relationship with Rose Namajunas. Pat Barry, 42, announced his retirement from MMA back in 2014 and is currently coaching at the 303 Training Center in Westminster, Colorado. It just so happens that Rose Namajunas, 29, (12-4 MMA) also trains at that same location.
UFC 274 | Pro fighters make their picks for Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2022
In the co-main event of UFC 274 Rose Namajunas is looking to defend her strawweight title as she rematches Carla Esparza after seven-and-a-half years. Heading into the fight, Namajunas is a -220 favorite on FanDuel while the challenger is a +176 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are unanimous in thinking Namajunas defends her belt again and does so by late TKO or decision.
Rose Namajunas explains how previous Ronda Rousey comparisons affected her first fight with Carla Esparza: “You don’t really think anybody’s on your level”
Harry Kettle - May 3, 2022
UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas has explained how being compared to Ronda Rousey impacted her against Carla Esparza. This Saturday night at UFC 274, Rose Namajunas will attempt to cement her status as the best strawweight on the planet when she goes head to head with Carla Esparza. The two women have met before when they battled for the inaugural strawweight belt in December 2014 and on that night, Esparza submitted ‘Thug Rose’ and captured the title.
Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza 2 set for UFC 274
Cole Shelton - March 16, 2022
Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza are finally set to run it back. According to Sports Illustrated, Namjunas and Esparza have agreed to fight one another in the co-main event of UFC 274 on May 7 in Phoenix, Arizona. The event will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk shares her prediction for upcoming Carla Esparza vs. Rose Namajunas rematch
Harry Kettle - March 16, 2022
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has given her thoughts on the upcoming rematch between Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza. While she hasn’t competed inside the Octagon for over two years, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is still a pretty important factor to consider in the UFC’s strawweight division. The former champion is reportedly eyeing a return to the cage this summer, with the plan being for her to take on Zhang Weili in a rematch from their epic encounter at UFC 248.
Rose Namajunas explains how she benefited from loss to Carla Esparza: “I needed a piece of the humble pie”
Susan Cox - January 4, 2022
Rose Namajunas on an episode of UFC’s ‘Run it Back’ YouTube series commented on how she benefited from her loss to Carla Esparza way back in 2014: “Man I just had to stop being an a**hole. [laughs] No I mean, not that, but just like be, have self-awareness you know what I mean like, I was just kinda floating through life and just no direction with anything. I needed a piece of the humble pie, ya know.”
Former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk says she was offered the winner of ‘Esparza vs. Namajunas 2’, but plans to rematch Weili Zhang
Susan Cox - January 4, 2022
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is aiming to return to MMA competition in 2022. In a recent interview on the ‘Kanal Sportowy Show’ in Poland, Joanna commented:
Rose Namajunas can’t figure out why UFC won’t “get behind” Carla Esparza for a rematch: “Nothing really interests me other than Carla”
Harry Kettle - December 15, 2021
UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas can’t understand why the UFC won’t back Carla Esparza to get a title shot. At UFC 268, Rose Namajunas was able to defeat Zhang Weili for the second time this year to successfully retain her UFC strawweight title. Carla Esparza, meanwhile, finished Yan Xiaonan in May to take her current win streak up to five.
Zhang Weili reflects on fights with Rose Namajunas, feels 'enlightened' by experiences
Drake Riggs - November 30, 2021
The rivalry between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas has come to an end for the time being. UFC 268 kicked off the month of November and featured two big title fight rematches. In the evening’s co-main event, China’s first UFC champion in Zhang looked to get redemption opposite her successor from their UFC 261 meeting in April.
Carla Esparza responds after Dana White suggests the UFC has another "option" at strawweight
Christopher Taylor - November 10, 2021
Carla Esparza has responded after Dana White suggested that the UFC has another “option” for Rose Namajunas at strawweight. After Namajunas (11-4 MMA) defeated Zhang Weili (21-3 MMA) for a second time in the co-headliner of last Saturday’s UFC 268 event, many assumed that former champ Carla Esparza would be next to challenge ‘Thug Rose’.
What's next for the stars of UFC 268?
Cole Shelton - November 8, 2021
The UFC returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since November of 2019 for a stacked UFC 268 card. The event saw two titles on the line as Kamaru Usman was looking to defend his welterweight title in a rematch against Colby Covington. Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang were also running it back from their fight in April for the strawweight strap. UFC 268 ended up being one of the best cards in recent memory as in the main event, Usman edged out Covington in a super close fight. Namajunas, meanwhile, went up 2-0 on Zhang as she defended her belt with a split decision win. Now, after UFC 268, here’s what I think should be next for the four fighters involved in the title fights.
Dana White not ready to give Carla Esparza a title shot following UFC 268: "We have an option"
Christopher Taylor - November 7, 2021
Dana White is not ready to proclaim Carla Esparza as the next strawweight title challenger, this despite Rose Namajunas’ win at UFC 268. Esparza (18-6 MMA), the promotions former strawweight champion, is currently on a five-fight winning streak and seemingly has the best case for a title shot when compared to any of the other divisions contenders.
Rose Namajunas wants Carla Esparza next following win over Weili Zhang at UFC 268
Adam D Martin - November 7, 2021
UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas wants to fight Carla Esparza next following her big win over Weili Zhang at UFC 268. Namajunas edged out a split decision over Zhang in a razor-thin fight that served as the co-main event of UFC 268. It was another fantastic performance by Namajunas, who overcame a slow start to turn it on late and steal the decision on the judges’ scorecards. Namajunas is now 2-0 over Zhang and it seems unlikely that the UFC will run back an immediate trilogy fight, so it seems likely that Namajunas will get a new opponent next.