Former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will move up to the flyweight division to face Manon Fiorot at the upcoming UFC Fight Night card in Paris.
The flyweight division welcomes a new challenger as former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas moves up to 125 pounds to face Manon Fiorot at the UFC Fight Night card in Paris on September 2. The news was confirmed by multiple sources in the industry, initially reported by MMA Junkie.
Namajunas, a two-time champion, has been a contender in the strawweight division since her arrival during The Ultimate Fighter Season 20. She is still considered one of the top pound-for-pound women’s fighters in the sport. Namajunas will be making her first appearance since losing a split decision to Carla Esparza in May 2022, which cost her the UFC strawweight title. Namajunas now aims to make her mark in the flyweight division, starting with her fight in September.
Fiorot boasts a 10-1 record overall, with five wins in the UFC. She quickly rose up the ranks to position herself for a title shot opportunity. Fiorot has been out of action since October 2022, when she defeated perennial contender Katlyn Chookagian, but injuries have kept her sidelined ever since. Her return to her home country of France provides Fiorot the opportunity to face a big name across the women’s divisions, with the potential for a shot at a championship title with a victory. The match between Namajunas and Fiorot is part of the growing lineup at UFC Paris, headlined by heavyweights Ciryl Gane and Serghei Spivac on September 2.