Rose Namajunas hopes for at least one more Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title run.
UFC heads back to Denver, Colorado, and features an important Flyweight match up atop the billing as Namajunas looks to maintain her No. 6 spot in the rankings against the rising contender, Tracy Cortez, this weekend (Sat., July 13, 2024). Although the opponent isn’t who Namajunas was originally set to battle, she expects big possibilities to follow.
“I’d say I’m right in that title contention talks [with a win],” Namajunas told MMA Junkie. “God willing, I’m healthy, I’m in shape and I’m ready to go with a win and whatever opportunities they want to give me. I could see myself fighting for the belt really soon. It’s just a matter of doing my job and fighting to the best of my abilities. Anything’s possible.”
Namajunas, 32, made history as the youngest female champion in UFC history when she won the Strawweight title against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 217 in November 2017. She had a second stint with the title in 2021 when she defeated the current champion of the division, Zhang Weili, twice.
Ideally for “Thug,” she’ll be able to achieve one of her longtime goals before she hangs up the gloves. It all starts with the first hometown appearance of her 18-fight career (12-6).
“When I first started my career in the UFC, that was my vision that I had in mind. It wasn’t super solid, but I definitely wanted to become champion,” Namajunas said. “And then, somewhere in the back of my mind, I thought to become champion in two divisions, as well.
“But that was so far in the distance, I wasn’t sure if I could make that happen,” she concluded. “But now I know that I can.”