Rose Namajunas News

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.

Cole Shelton - April 22, 2021

In the co-main event of UFC 261, Weili Zhang is looking to defend her strawweight title for the second time when she battles former champion, Rose Namajunas. Heading into the fight, Zhang is a -210 favorite while the challenger is a +170 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros slightly lean towards Zhang defending her belt in a very competitive fight.

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

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.

Adam D Martin - April 11, 2021

Rose Namajunas took a political jab at UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang ahead of UFC 261, saying “Better dead than red.” Namajunas steps back into the Octagon on April 24 when she takes on Zhang with the 115lbs belt on the line. Ahead of the fight, “Thug” spoke to the Lithuanian National Radio and Television about the fight with Zhang. Namajunas suggested that because of her background as an American – Lithuanian and Zhang’s background as a Chinese fighter, there is extra motivation going into this matchup at UFC 261.

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.

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.

Adam Martin - February 28, 2021

The opening betting odds have been revealed for the upcoming UFC 261 women’s strawweight title fight between Weili Zhang and Rose Namajunas. Zhang vs. Namajunas has been long rumored to take place but the fight was only recently confirmed by the UFC, which plans on the bout taking place on April 24. With Zhang vs. Namajunas now official, the sportsbooks have opened up the betting odds for the fight. Take a look at the opening odds for Zhang vs. Namajunas (via BetOnline/BestFightOdds).

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 4, 2021

It’s Super Bowl weekend which aside from another NFL champion being crowned means another year of high-profile commercials. This year, former UFC titleholders Dustin Poirier and Rose Namajunas get some spotlight. https://youtu.be/Nf0QvCq3quk

Adam Martin - January 11, 2021

UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang could make her next title defense in Asia, according to UFC president Dana White. Zhang is one of the top female fighters in the sports and she is looking to make a grand return to the Octagon in 2021, following a “Fight of the Year” performance against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 in March 2020. Zhang was not able to fight again following the COVID-19 pandemic, but she is hoping to fight again in the next few months. While most assumed she would make her next title defense in Las Vegas or on Fight Island, there is now a chance she could fight in Asia instead.

Tom Taylor - January 4, 2021

Rose Namajunas is ready to challenge Weili Zhang for the UFC strawweight title, according to the pair’s manager Brian Butler. UFC President Dana White recently claimed that Namajunas, the division’s former champion, isn’t interested in challenging Zhang in a bid to reclaim the title, and that Carla Esparza could get the opportunity in her stead.

Adam Martin - December 30, 2020

UFC women’s strawweight contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacted to the potential of Carla Esparza getting a title shot, saying “Rose is next.” We all thought the plan was for UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang to fight Rose Namajunas next, but UFC president Dana White recently got into a public disagreement with Team Namajunas about her desire to actually fight for the belt. According to White, Namajunas doesn’t want to fight Zhang for the belt and the UFC is considering giving the title shot at 115lbs to the former champion Esparza instead. On her end, Team Namajunas has denied that and says that she just wants to fight.

Adam Martin - December 16, 2020

Team Rose Namajunas has refuted UFC president Dana White’s claims that she does not want a title shot against strawweight champ Weili Zhang. After beating Jessica Andrade by split decision at UFC 251 in a “Fight of the Night” performance on Fight Island this past summer, White said that Namajunas was next in line to fight Zhang. Very recently we heard that the UFC was close to figuring out a date for this bout, but it appears that it might not happen now. On Wednesday, White made comments to BT suggesting that Namajunas isn’t interested in a title shot against Zhang and that the promotion is considering giving the next title shot to former champ Carla Esparza instead.

Tom Taylor - December 2, 2020

Former UFC strawweight champ Rose Namajunas has opened up on the traumatizing experience of being on the bus Conor McGregor infamously attacked back in 2018. The incident occurred at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY when McGregor, in a frenzied search for his nemesis Khabib Nurmagomedov, hurled a dolly through the window of a bus carrying a number of UFC fighters—Namajunas included.