Rose Namajunas News

Adam D Martin - April 27, 2021

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman praised newly-crowned women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas after her upset win at UFC 261. Usman put on a stunning performance in the main event when he electrified the crowd with a KO win over Jorge Masvidal, but Namajunas was one of the stars of the show, as well. “Thug” knocked out Weili Zhang in the first round with a nasty head kick to become the new UFC women’s strawweight champion. It was an incredible performance by her once again as she regained the belt she lost to Jessica Andrade nearly two years ago in Brazil.

Cole Shelton - April 26, 2021

The UFC returned to a full capacity crowd on Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida for UFC 261. The card saw three title fights as Kamaru Usman rematched Jorge Masvidal, Weili Zhang took on Rose Namajunas, and Valentina Shevchenko battled Jessica Andrade. The event was one of the better ones in recent memory and one title ended up changing hands. In the main event, Usman defended his belt with a second-round KO over Masvidal. Namajunas became the strawweight champ with a first-round KO over Zhang, and to no surprise, Shevchenko defended her strap with a TKO win over Andrade.

Harry Kettle - April 26, 2021

Rose Namajunas has credited Joanna Jędrzejczyk for giving her the blueprint on the right way to approach a fight against Zhang Weili. “Thug Rose” went into her title fight at the weekend knowing that many viewed her as the underdog – but coming out of it, she was the one who had her hand raised as she recaptured the UFC strawweight title.

Adam Martin - April 25, 2021

UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas issued a statement following her head kick KO win over Weili Zhang at UFC 261. Namajunas entered the UFC 261 co-main event as a considerable betting underdog, but she showed that the odds were wrong and she was being overlooked with a brutal head kick KO just over a minute into the fight. For Namajunas, it was a successful opportunity to win back the women’s 115lbs belt that she lost to Jessica Andrade in Brazil two years ago by taking out Zhang and snapping her 20-fight win streak. It was an incredible upset on a night that saw a number of underdogs walk away with the win in Jacksonville, Florida.

Chris Taylor - April 24, 2021

Former UFC strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk was clearly watching tonight’s UFC 261 co-main event between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Jedrzejczyk (16-4 MMA) is of course familiar with both Rose and Weili, having suffered two previous losses to Namajunas, this before her most recent setback to Zhang.

Chris Taylor - April 24, 2021

Tonight’s UFC 261 event was co-headlined by a highly anticipated women’s strawweight title fight featuring Weili Zhang taking on Rose Namajunas. Zhang (21-2 MMA) was returning to the Octagon for the first time since her thrilling split-decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, which served as her first career title defense. The Chinese standout had captured the promotions 115-pound title with a first round TKO victory over Jessica Andrade back in August of 2019.

Chris Taylor - April 24, 2021

Tonight’s UFC 261 event is co-headlined by a strawweight title fight featuring reigning champion Weili Zhang taking on former title holder Rose Namajunas. Zhang (21-1 MMA) will be returning to the Octagon for the first time since her thrilling split-decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, which served as her first career title defense. The Chinese standout had captured the promotions 115-pound title with a first round TKO victory over Jessica Andrade in August of 2019.

Chris Taylor - April 23, 2021

The Octagon returns to Jacksonville for tonight’s UFC 261: ‘Usman vs. Masvidal 2’ event, a thirteen-bout fight card that features three title fights. Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal originally met last July at UFC 251, where ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ won a clear-cut decision, but ‘Gamebred’ took the fight on six days notice.

Harry Kettle - April 21, 2021

The UFC returns to pay-per-view once again this weekend with an arena full of fans in Jacksonville at UFC 261, headlined by Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal 2. Event: UFC 261: Usman vs Masvidal 2 Date: Saturday, 24th April 2021 Location: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida Broadcast: ESPN+ – 5.45pm/8pm/10pm EST

Adam D Martin - April 18, 2021

The team of UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang responded to the recent “better dead than red” comments from Rose Namajunas. Namajunas’ recent comments led to a lot of media coverage after a clip of her talking about communism. As part of the comments, Namajunas took a shot at Zhang. The two meet next weekend at UFC 261 for the UFC women’s strawweight title currently held by Zhang. Ahead of the fight, Zhang’s strength and conditioning coach, Ruben Yana Jr., spoke to SCMP MMA and he responded to the recent comments that Namajunas made.

Christopher Taylor - April 14, 2021

Rose Namajunas is not backing down after receiving a ton of heat for her “better dead than red” comment regarding UFC champion Weili Zhang. Namajunas (9-4 MMA) is set to challenge Zhang (21-1 MMA) for the promotions undisputed strawweight champion in the co-main event of UFC 261 on April 24 in Jacksonville.

Christopher Taylor - April 14, 2021

Women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang has responded to the “better dead than red” comments made by her upcoming opponent Rose Namajunas. Zhang (21-1 MMA) and Namajunas (9-4 MMA) are set to square off in the co-main event of UFC 261 on April 24 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Drake Riggs - April 7, 2021

At UFC 261 on April 24, Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas will be anything but friendly with one another – the current champ hopes that won’t be the case in the aftermath. Coming into the co-main event of the first event to have full crowds back in the UFC, Zhang expects a great battle with her challenger. From there, they can go on to be cordial.

Adam Martin - March 25, 2021

UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang fired back at boxing legend Mike Tyson after he suggested Rose Namajunas “destroys” her. Zhang returns to the Octagon at UFC 261 on April 24 when she takes on Namajunas in a fight that’s been in the works for months now. Zhang hasn’t fought since last March at UFC 248 when she won a split decision in a classic war against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Namajunas, meanwhile, is coming off of a split decision win over Jessica Andrade. They are the two top-ranked women’s strawweights in the world right now and this fight should be fantastic.

Drake Riggs - March 15, 2021

Rose Namajunas isn’t the only one in her family with a massive fight coming up. The former UFC strawweight champion’s older brother, Nojus, is set to make his pro-MMA debut next week. On March 27, Namajunas, 31, joins the pro ranks at Mountain Force MMA 23 (MTF 23) in Logan, Utah.

Adam Martin - March 12, 2021

UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko says she’s in no rush for a superfight against women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang. Shevchenko takes on top contender Jessica Andrade in the co-main event of UFC 261, which takes place on April 24 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. On the same card, Zhang takes on Rose Namajunas in the main event.

Cole Shelton - February 26, 2021

Weili Zhang will look to defend her strawweight title for a second time against Rose Namajunas. For months now, many have been wondering when Zhang would fight again and who she would face. She had options of fighting Namajunas or Carla Esparza or even rematching Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Yet, according to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Zhang is set to defend her belt against Namajunas on April 24 at UFC 261.

Drake Riggs - February 18, 2021

Rampant speculation has surrounded UFC 261 and its location. Now, it appears things will stay in Vegas with a pair of pivotal strawweight bouts. Combate reported on Thursday that the April 24 UFC pay-per-view event will no longer be at what was initially reported as Singapore. Instead, the promotion will stick with keeping things stateside in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex facility.