Highlights! ‘Thug’ Rose Retains Title In NYC

Rose Namajunas retained her UFC women’s strawweight title last night (Sat., Nov. 6, 2021) at UFC 268 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, as “Thug” outlasted Zhang Weili over the course of five very competitive and hard to judge rounds.

Namajunas scored early with combinations along the cage. Weili was able to score a takedown and earn some valuable top time. The two would wildly exchange as the final moments of the first round wound down. Weili fired back in the second with powerful rights inside. She would then land a left hand that stumbled Namajunas along the cage. Namajunas returned favor with a takedown to end the round.

In the third, Namajunas kept her distance and landed kicks and punches from the outside. Weili would wait for the counter shots and found a home for a few punches before eventually scoring another takedown. Namajunas regained momentum in the fourth by landing powerful right hands. Weili would gain back control during a scramble on the ground, but Namajunas was able to reverse and get on top to ride out the round.

Namajunas shot in for a timely takedown to begin the fifth and final round. Weili had little answers as “Thug” landed hard punches and threatened transitions. Namajunas was able to maintain control for the rest of the fight and put a stamp on her title defense.

Check out the video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC 268 results and coverage click here.