UFC: Rose Namajunas not considering strawweight return, targeting flyweight title run

Rose Namajunas says she has no plans to move back down to strawweight as she is still targeting becoming a two-weight UFC champion at flyweight.

The American is a two-time strawweight champion and considered one of the best fighters ever at 115lb, but her fortunes at flyweight (125lb) have been mixed with a 2-2 record since 2023.

Namajunas, 32, faces Miranda Maverick on Saturday in Atlanta and says she would only return to strawweight for a big fight.

“I know that people try to tell me what to do or advice about my career. I know myself and I know what I’m doing. Yeah maybe I had some mixed results. But there are a lot of factors that go into it, that people don’t know about,” Namajunas said at a UFC media day.

“I’ve already got to the top of [the strawweight division]. With the time I have left in my career, this is the next biggest challenge.

“It got to the point at 115lb I had so many rematches and I was fighting the same people. I have that goal of becoming two-division champion.”

Namajunas lost a points decision to Erin Blanchfield in her last outing in November, describing it as hitting a “speed bump” and has also been beaten by title contender Manon Fiorot.

The Milwaukee native, who is 13-7 overall in her MMA career, says her goal is to earn a title shot.

“I still feel like it’s possible and it’s very in reach. I was actually in this position before at 115lb where I was making a title run and I fought Karolina [Kowalkiewicz] in Atlanta many years ago,” she said.

“I thought I was getting that title shot right after that and I lost and I had to rebuild myself. Here I am again.”