UFC
Five Times ”Thug” Rose Showed Why She’s the Greatest Strawweight Ever
Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili at UFC 261. Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s take a closer look at five fights when ”Thug” Rose Namajunas showed that she is the best strawweight to ever walk the face of the earth – and one of UFC:s most technical fighters to date.
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5. Beating up Paige VanZant
Paige VanZant. Photo: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Paige VanZant may not be a top fighter these days, but in December 2015 she was undefeated in the UFC and considered a star in the making.
Then she faced Thug Rose.
In a one sided and bloody fight the future champ really showed what a ruthless fighter she is. After picking apart VanZant completely, Namajunas finished her with a rear-naked choke in the fifth round.
4. Knocking out Michelle Waterson
Rose Namajunas and Michelle “Karate Hottie” Waterson. Photo: USA Today Sports
In April 2017 Thug Rose faced Michelle Waterson. In the second round Namajunas dropped “Karate Hottie” with a head kick, landed some heavy ground and pound and choked her out. The clean finish was her fifth win by submission and really showed the world how well-rounded her game is.
The victory also gave Namajunas a title shot just six months later.
3. Defending the title against Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Photo : Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
Just months after taking the strawweight title from Joanna Jedrzejczyk, the new champion proved that the win was no fluke.
At UFC 223 she stood toe to toe with the former Muay Thai world champion Jedrzejczyk. When the dust cleared, after five intense rounds, the judges had the American as the winner by unanimous decision (49–46, 49–46, 49–46).
Thug Rose was still the undisputed champion of the world and now had two straight wins over the once so dominant Jedrzejczyk.
2. Knocking out Zhang Weili and retaking the title
Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili at UFC 261. Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
When Thug Rose knocked out the strawweight champion Zhang Weili at UFC 261 she became historic as the first female fighter ever to win back a UFC title.
The first-round head kick that won the fight is truly poetry in motion.
1. Knocking out Joanna Jedrzejczyk and winning the title
Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Rose Namajunas. Photo: USA TODAY Sports
Thug Rose’s finest moment is still the first title win against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in November 2017. Back then the Polish strawweight was a very dominant champion with five straight title defenses.
She was also undefeated as a professional MMA fighter and cocky as hell.
But nothing of that mattered when the hungry challenger Namajunas landed her perfect left hook in the first round and shook up the MMA world. Jędrzejczyk lost the belt and her career was never the same again.
Rose Namajunas
Rose Namajunas. Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
- Age: 31
- Record: 11-5
- Weight class: Strawweight, 115 lbs (52 kilo) and Flyweight 125 lbs (56 kilo)
- Height: 5 feet 5 inches (165 centimeter)
- Reach: 65 inches (165 centimeter)
- Performance of the Night bonuses: 3
- Fight of the Nigth bonuses: 3
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