Rose Namajunas: UFC promised ‘dream’ title shot with win at UFC 324

Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas has a massive fight lined up with a victory this weekend at UFC 324.

Rose Namajunas will look to stop top flyweight contender Natalia Silva’s quick ascent this weekend on the UFC 324 undercard in Las Vegas. Namajunas, a former UFC women’s strawweight titleholder, has had mixed results since making the full-time move to 125 lbs.

After her recent win over Miranda Maverick at UFC Atlanta, Namajunas is back in the flyweight title mix and could potentially get a title shot after UFC 324. This would make an all-legends matchup between Valentina Shevchenko and Namajunas come to fruition.

Shevchenko and Namajunas are close friends and have both dodged the possibility of fighting each other in the Octagon during their careers. But that doesn’t mean Namajunas doesn’t want the opportunity to win a second UFC world title, with Shevchenko standing in her way.

Rose Namajunas conflicted over potential fight with Valentina Shevchenko after UFC 324

In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Namajunas was asked about a potential showdown with Valentina Shevchenko and what’s on the line this weekend at UFC 324.

“A dream come true,” Namajunas said.

“I’d like to have a conversation about it and talk with her first and everything like that because she’s somebody that inspired me and I’ve looked up to. It would definitely be conflicting emotions but at the same time, I’m down to do it but at the same time, I also understand if there’d be second thoughts.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it but honestly, just as a fan of hers, she’s literally my favorite female fighter,” Namajunas continued. “So it would be so weird because obviously I’d never want to see her lose but then I would have to go into a fight and try to beat her.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

Shevchenko defended the UFC women’s flyweight title by defeating Zhang Weili, Namajunas’ two-time rival, at UFC 322 in November.