Based on a new video from Namajunas’ manager, “Thug Rose” has no plans to drop back down to Strawweight after a failed debut at Flyweight.
Add former Strikeforce Lightweight champion, Josh Thomson, to the long list of people who don’t think Rose Namajunas should continue to fight at 125 pounds.
Namajunas is a two-time UFC women’s Strawweight champion and holds two wins over the current women’s 115-pound queenpin, Weili Zhang. But, instead of continuing to compete at that weight class, “Thug Rose” decided it was time to challenge herself with a move up to 125 pounds (see the difference here). Her debut against top contender, Manon Fiorot, at UFC Paris this past weekend (Sat., Sept. 2, 2023) didn’t go too well, and a lot of folks are blaming it on the size difference.
Post fight processing. @rosenamajunas has always kept it genuine and honorable. The mission remains the same. #2divisionchamp pic.twitter.com/RQE4Nc0enO
— Brian Butler-Au (@BrianButler_Au) September 5, 2023
“I thought Fiorot was just the bigger fighter and all of her shots had a lot more impact on Rose,” Thomson said on his Weighing In podcast. “I feel like Rose Namajunas is sabotaging her career. Like, what are you doing? She is so talented, and you are considered to be one of the best in the 115 pound division. Why are you going up?
“Maybe it was for one fight — I hope you go back down,” he continued. “You could be the champ again. I mean, if you wanna get motivated, stay motivated, whatever it is. I just feel like she’s sabotaging herself. She doesn’t know how to handle this success or she just doesn’t want to have success around her.”
During the UFC Paris post-fight press conference (watch it here), Fiorot also suggested Flyweight wasn’t where Namajunas should be competing.
“I’m pretty sure she wanted to wrestle me, but for her, it’s impossible to take me down,” Fiorot said. “I think it’s not her category. The flyweights are too strong for her.”
In a video posted by her manager, Namajunas fired back at the critics.
“I’m not too small for Flyweight — there’s no way,” a fired up Namajuas declared. “I dropped her ass. How am I too small? Maybe I had some moments where I was, like, stumbling over, or I wasn’t totally in position. But I’m like, ‘Dude, you felt no stronger than Weili. You felt no stronger than Weili, and I beat her ass twice.’ So shut the f— up. I’m not too small for flyweight.
“You can say anything else,” she concluded. “You can say you beat me on points, okay? But you can’t say I’m too small for flyweight. And you can’t say that I didn’t win a round because I for sure won at least one round, if not two. But, that’s up for debate, right?”
For complete UFC Paris results, coverage and highlights click HERE.