Tag: Rose Namajunas

UFC 268 Results: Usman vs. Covington 2

UFC 268 ResultsLowKick MMA will be bringing you UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 results throughout the night (Sat. November 6. 2021) live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Taking main event status in the promotion’s return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since November 2019, bad-blooded welterweight title rematch between reigning gold holder, […]

UFC 268 Results

LowKick MMA will be bringing you UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 results throughout the night (Sat. November 6. 2021) live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

Taking main event status in the promotion’s return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since November 2019, bad-blooded welterweight title rematch between reigning gold holder, Kamaru Usman and the former interim titleholder, #1 ranked contender, Colby Covington.

Attempting to score a second career victory over Clovis native, Covington, Usman also looks to add to his four consecutive title defenses against his rival, following an April knockout stoppage over two-time title challenger, Jorge Masvidal.

For Covington, the outspoken top-contender last featured in September of last year in the headlining bout of UFC Vegas 11 where he secured a fifth round TKO victory over common-opposition, former undisputed champion, Tyron Woodley who suffered a fifth round rib injury.

In the first of our championship doubleheader, strawweight gold is on the line between current queen and two-time champion, Rose Namajunas and former champion, the #1 ranked, Zhang Weili — with the pair meeting once again following an April showdown.

Co-headlining UFC 261 on that occasion, Weili suffered a first round high kick knockout loss to Namajunas — who became the first two-time strawweight champion in the history of the organization.

UFC 268 Results: Usman vs. Covington 2

Main Card: (ESPN+ PPV 10 p.m. ET)

Welterweight: Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Colby Covington

Strawweight: Rose Namajunas (c) vs. Zhang Weili

Bantamweight: Frankie Edgar vs. Marlon Vera

Featherweight: Shane Burgos vs. Billy Quarantillo

Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler

Preliminary Card: (ESPNews/ESPN+ 8 p.m. ET)

Middleweight: Alex Pereira vs. Andreas Michailidis

Lightweight: Al Iaquinta vs. Bobby Green

Middleweight: Phil Hawes vs. Chris Curtis

Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Nassourdine Imavov

Early Preliminary Card: (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass 6 p.m. ET)

Welterweight: Ian Garry vs. Jordan Williams

Heavyweight: Gian Villante vs. Chris Barnett

Light Heavyweight: Dustin Jacoby vs. John Allan

Catchweight (148.4lbs): Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Bruno Souza

Catchweight (127.4lbs): Ode’ Osbourne def. C.J. Vergara via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Zhang Weili Preparing For Hostile UFC 268 Crowd With Simulated Boos

Zhang Weili isn’t leaving any stone unturned to prepare for a hostile away crowd at UFC 268, with her team even simulating boos and verbal abuse during training.

Zhang will attempt to win back her strawweight title from Rose Namajunas when they mee…

Zhang Weili

Zhang Weili isn’t leaving any stone unturned to prepare for a hostile away crowd at UFC 268, with her team even simulating boos and verbal abuse during training.

Zhang will attempt to win back her strawweight title from Rose Namajunas when they meet this Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. In their first encounter just over six months ago, Zhang was knocked out spectacularly inside two minutes by a Namajunas head kick, ending her 21-fight win streak.

During that loss, “Magnum” was booed mercilessly by the Jacksonville, Florida crowd at UFC 261—the first full capacity event since the COVID-19 outbreak—and many believed the hostile treatment spooked the 32-year-old. Zhang herself even later admitted that she wasn’t prepared for the level of animosity dispensed at her.

Rose Namajunas Zhang Weili
Photo via Instagram @espnmma

Zhang Weili Takes Her Mental Preparations To A Bizarre New Level

This weekend, Zhang isn’t expecting anything different from the New York crowd, and as such, she’s mentally preparing for the prospect of walking into a wall of boos. And the best way to prepare, thinks her team, is to simulate that hostility while Zhang is training.

“After having the experience last time, we understand that because in the US I am away and my opponent is at home, a lot of things will definitely happen,” Zhang told Chinese media this week (h/t South China Morning Post). “So after we came this time, we have made targeted preparations for our training and the atmosphere of the scene. We are doing simulations, there will be audiences, they are not optimistic about you, they come to boo you.”

So, expect to see a far more mentally resilient Zhang Weili at UFC 268, and possibly, a new and improved version of herself. After all, she’s been training at Fight Ready MMA in Scottsdale, Arizona, under the tutelage of none other than “Triple C” himself, Henry Cejudo.

What do you think? Will Zhang Weili reclaim her strawweight title from Rose Namajunas?

Continue Reading Zhang Weili Preparing For Hostile UFC 268 Crowd With Simulated Boos at MMA News.

Dern: Namajunas Will Have All The Answers To Zhang At UFC 268

UFC women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern believes 115-pound champion Rose Namajunas will defeat Zhang Weili for the second time this year at UFC 268.

Namajunas is set for the first defense of her second title reign in this weekend’s co-main…

Mackenzie Dern, Rose Namajunas, Zhang Weili

UFC women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern believes 115-pound champion Rose Namajunas will defeat Zhang Weili for the second time this year at UFC 268.

Namajunas is set for the first defense of her second title reign in this weekend’s co-main event. Inside New York City’s prestigious Madison Square Garden, “Thug Rose” will be competing in a rematch with her third successive opponent.

After dethroning Joanna J?drzejczyk in 2017, the Wisconsin native defeated the Polish star again five months later. Having lost the belt to Jéssica Andrade in 2019, Namajunas then ran it back with the Brazilian a year later in Abu Dhabi. She’ll now face former champion Zhang for the second time in 2021.

The pair previously collided at UFC 261 in April. Namajunas was aiming to become the first women to defeat “Magnum” since 2013. The Chinese star had built a 21-fight winning streak and held the strawweight gold at the time. She reached the strawweight mountaintop through a 5-0 UFC record that included a title crowning against Andrade and a Fight of the Year defense against J?drzejczyk.

Just over a minute into the very first round, Namajunas landed a flush left head kick that sent Zhang to the mat. After some follow up strikes, Keith Petersen waved the fight off and “Thug Rose” became the first woman in UFC history to regain a title.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtX-f-LffB/

Dern Expects To Hear ‘And Still’ At UFC 268

Despite the incredible form of the division’s inaugural champ Carla Esparza, the UFC opted to grant Zhang an immediate rematch. With a new haircut, a new focus, and some new teammates in Henry Cejudo and Deiveson Figueiredo, “Magnum” will be looking to have gold wrapped around her waist again on November 6.

But like many, #5-ranked contender Mackenzie Dern isn’t expecting to see Zhang become the second female fighter to regain gold in the UFC. Speaking to MMA journalist James Lynch, the Arizona-born Brazilian gave her prediction for Saturday’s co-main event. While she expects the contest to see more action than their first clash, Dern believes Namajunas will have all the answers to Zhang’s attack.

“I think it will go longer than how long it went the first one. But I think that Rose will win. The last time I thought that Zhang Weili would win and man, Rose just like, proved me wrong and maybe a lot of people wrong… I think that Rose will win again… I think that, even though Zhang Weili, I think she’s gonna come maybe more focused, I guess, I think that Rose is gonna have all the answers for her.”

Despite falling out of title contention with a main event loss to Marina Rodriguez last month, Dern is still only 28 and possesses championship aspirations. Having jumped back into the division’s top five following J?drzejczyk’s removal due to inactivity, Dern will have a close eye on this weekend’s title fight.

Do you agree with Mackenzie Dern? Will Rose Namajunas leave Madison Square Garden with the strawweight gold?

Continue Reading Dern: Namajunas Will Have All The Answers To Zhang At UFC 268 at MMA News.

Namajunas Speaks From Experience On Why She Thinks Zhang Cut Her Hair

Rose Namajunas thinks she knows something about Weili Zhang’s latest hairdo.

Rose Namajunas is preparing for her rematch with the former champ, Weili Zhang. These two fighters have some history between them. They first met up in the Octagon back i…

Rose Namajunas Weili Zhang

Rose Namajunas thinks she knows something about Weili Zhang’s latest hairdo.

Rose Namajunas is preparing for her rematch with the former champ, Weili Zhang. These two fighters have some history between them. They first met up in the Octagon back in April when Namajunas defeated Zhang and reclaimed her top spots in the strawweight division. In the lead-up to the first fight to now, Namajunas has gotten a pretty good read on Zhang, now she lends her theory on Zhangs new look.

“Cutting your hair is the move for any fighter. Hair does get in the way,” Namajunas explained on The MMA Hour. “So her doing that, I’m sure she’s seen the benefit. I think she used to have short hair her whole life as a kid. But I think just, from my understanding, she grew it out. And then now, she kinda realized that she wants to go back to how it used to be.”

Despite the new look, Zhang is a very dangerous opponent of Namajunas. Zhang holds wins over some of the best in the strawweight division such as Jéssica Andrade, and Joanna J?drzejczyk. In preparation for this rematch, Zhang has called in the help of another former champion, Henry Cejudo.

Photos of Zhang and Cejudo training together have been circulating. Cejudo put out his own warning towards Namajunas about “Weili 2.0.” Namajunas has heard this warning and is not taking it lightly.

“As far as her training camp and training with Henry Cejudo, I think she could pick up a few things, and I think that it’s probably better than what she’s been doing,” Namajunas said. “So I’m just expecting a better version of her and maybe a little more well-rounded and whatnot. But at the end of the day, it’s all about my preparation.”

This strawweight title fight will serve as the co-main event of the upcoming UFC 268 card being held in Madison Square Garden in New York. The event will be headlined by champion Kamaru Usman defending his belt against Colby Covington.

How do you think walks away from the UFC 268 event holding the strawweight belt, Weili Zhang, or Rose Namajunas?

Continue Reading Namajunas Speaks From Experience On Why She Thinks Zhang Cut Her Hair at MMA News.

Rose Namajunas Says Her Ultimate Goal Is To Become A Farmer

Rose NamajunasRose Namajunas is one of the most talented and successful female fighters of all time but that is not what she really aspires to be. The strawweight champion is set to defend her belt in an eagerly anticipated rematch with Weili Zhang at UFC 268 on November 6. Ahead of that bout, Namajunas has explained […]

Rose Namajunas

Rose Namajunas is one of the most talented and successful female fighters of all time but that is not what she really aspires to be.

The strawweight champion is set to defend her belt in an eagerly anticipated rematch with Weili Zhang at UFC 268 on November 6. Ahead of that bout, Namajunas has explained that despite all of her success in MMA she is yet to fulfill her ultimate “life purpose”.

“The more I’ve learnt about myself, I’ve realised that’s just who I am [gardening]. That is my ultimate life purpose,” Namajunas told BT Sport. “Obviously I’m a martial artist and that’s primarily what I do most of the time, but I’m working towards becoming a farmer. I’ve been saying it since I was in kindergarten and they asked us what we wanna be when we grow up. It’s just ingrained in me. I’ve always had a love for nature and animals, and I think it’s always been there. I’m doing it more and more as I become older.” (Transcribed by Sportskeeda)

Namajunas is doing well in MMA which she appears to consider secondary in her life. The 115lb title holder boasts the most impressive resume which includes a pair of wins over former champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Tecia Torres, Michelle Waterson, Paige VanZant, Angela Hill, Jessica Andrade and of course her most recent win over Zhang.

Rose Namajunas Gets Heat For ‘Better Dead Than Red’ Comment

The Lithuanian-American faced criticism in the build-up to her first fight with Zhang which took place at UFC 261. Namajunas appeared to add a pollical element to the bout by using the anti-communist phrase “better dead than red” when discussing Zhang who hails from China. 

Despite the controversy she caused the trash talk seems to have worked perfectly as Zhang has since admitted she was off her game at UFC 261.

“I think it definitely affected me a little bit,” Zhang told Ariel Helwani ahead of UFC 268. “The comments that Rose made, I think she was successful in making the audience boo me. But I think that’s my own problem because I should be concentrating on the fight and not the audience. I can’t control who the audience likes. So I’m becoming more focused on my own fight.”

Are you surprised to hear Rose Namajunas wants to be a farmer?