Rose Namajunas believes she can become a “two-division champion” this year ahead of Amanda Ribas fight

Rose Namajunas is focused on fighting at flyweight as she believes she can become champion in the weight class.

Namajunas is set to headline UFC Vegas 89 on Saturday against Amanda Ribas where she will look to rebound from the decision loss she suffered to Manon Fiorot back in September. That bout had marked ‘Thug’s’ first fight at 125lbs, this after she lost a lackluster decision to Carla Esparza to drop the promotion’s strawweight title.

Although Rose Namajunas has two wins over the current strawweight champ in Zhang Weili, she says she’s focused on 125lbs as she believes it is healthier for her body.

“I just think health-wise, to me, it is just not a healthy thing to do at this point,” Namajunas said at UFC Vegas 89 media day about a potential return to strawweight. “I know that I could keep pushing through it, my mind got a lot stronger with cutting the weight but I could tell my body was not liking that as much. I could tell from my last strawweight fight, my eyes were sunken in and it’s hard to see myself like that. Even though the will gets stronger, the flesh gets weaker so to me, I’m all about health and wellness, even though we are about to go and fight, I want to preserve as much as possible.”

With Rose Namajunas focused on fighting at flyweight, her goal is to become champion at this weight class and become the next two-division champion in the UFC.

“Becoming two-division champion this year would be awesome. But I know that’s a very steep mountain to climb, and I know I have had some setbacks so I obviously I got to be realistic, but I do believe that is very realistic, and anything, God willing that is what is going to happen. I just have to take care business of this weekend,” Namajunas said.

If Rose Namajunas beats Amanda Ribas on Saturday, she could be a fight or two away from a title shot. But, with Alexa Grasso coaching TUF with Valentina Shevchenko, there may only be one flyweight title fight this year. However, Namajunas is confident she will hold gold again in the UFC, this time at flyweight.