Rose Namajunas opens as underdog against Jessica Andrade

Rose Namajunas is getting no love from the oddsmakers.

The UFC strawweight champion, who is scheduled to defend her title against Jessica Andrade at UFC 237, opened as a +100 underdog (bet $100 to win $100) according to 5Dimes. Since then, the line has shot up even further, as Namajunas is sitting at a +135 underdog (bet $100 to win $135) with Andrade coming in at -165 (bet $165 to win $100).

Rose Namajunas (8-3) is no stranger to being counted out. When she faced Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 217, she closed as a +350 underdog and knocked out the former champion in the first round to capture the strawweight title. It was Jedrzejczyk’s first career loss and put an end to her five-fight title defense streak.

Namajunas, a Genesis Training Center product, hasn’t competed since her Apr. 2017 unanimous decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 223 in their rematch. The 26-year-old is riding a three-fight win streak and has won six of her last seven fights. Namajunas has also finished two of her last three opponents and has gone 6-2 in the UFC.

Andrade (19-6) has gone on an incredible run since dropping down to strawweight in 2016, amassing a 6-1 record. Her lone loss during that span was a unanimous decision setback to Jedrzejczyk at UFC 211. The 27-year-old has the added benefit of competing in her native country of Brazil for this fight. Andrade is coming off a highlight reel knockout over Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 228 where she won in the first round.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen a current champion counted out of a title defense. Just last year at UFC 220, former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic opened as a +130 underdog against Francis Ngannou who came in at – 160. Miocic defeated Ngannou by unanimous decision and handed the Cameroon born fighter his second career loss.

UFC 237 takes place May 11th in Curitiba, Brazil. No venue has been announced for the event and this strawweight title fight is the only matchup listed on the card so far.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/10/2019.