Rose Namajunas, a two-time strawweight champion, has won her first UFC flyweight fight and is now eyeing a match with Maycee Barber, a top contender, to potentially earn a title shot at 125 pounds.
Rose Namajunas is now a UFC flyweight victor. A second win could catapult her back into the championship ring.
Namajunas has plenty of potential opponents. She recently won a unanimous decision over Amanda Ribas in UFC Vegas 89’s main event. Her history as a two-time strawweight champion adds a certain prestige to any matchup. But, she probably needs a win over a top-5 contender to get a title shot at 125 pounds.
After her latest win, Namajunas dropped a few names. Maycee Barber was one that sparked interest.
Namajunas thinks Barber is a “savage.” She shared her thoughts at the UFC Vegas 89 post-fight press conference. She finds Barber to be a strong, intimidating presence in the ring. Namajunas knew Barber when she was younger and finds her transformation interesting. Barber’s toughness would motivate Namajunas in her training.
But Namajunas is open to other opponents as well. Erin Blanchfield, Manon Fiorot, or even a title shot – she’s game for anything.
Barber’s been on a roll, winning six straight fights after losing to future champion Alexa Grasso. Her recent victory over Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299 puts her in a good position for a No. 1 contender’s fight.
Meanwhile, Grasso and ex-champion Valentina Shevchenko are set to coach the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter 32. This leaves them out of the picture for now, creating uncertainty in the flyweight title scene.
Namajunas lost to Manon Fiorot in her flyweight debut. Despite this, her impressive strawweight run made her one of UFC’s most popular fighters. She’s okay with leveraging her fame if it means a quicker path to a championship fight.
Namajunas is open to a title shot if offered. She acknowledges the need to earn such opportunities. She believes her journey would have been different had she won against Fiorot.
She found it strange not being ranked. She’s eager to climb the ranks instead of jumping straight into a superfight. She believes this path to becoming a champion would be more impressive. But, she’s not opposed to a quicker route if offered.
Namajunas is currently No. 14 in MMA Fighting’s Pound-for-Pound Rankings. After her win over Ribas, she’s likely to get a number in the UFC’s official rankings. She used her grappling skills to win parts of her fight against Ribas. But, she admits she’s still getting used to fighting in a heavier weight class.
Namajunas felt good about her performance. She believes there’s room for improvement. She didn’t feel as quick as she wanted to be, but she felt strong. She’s keen on improving her grappling skills and maintaining a high level of skill in all areas.