Rose Namajunas | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

Joanna Jedrzejczyk: Weili Zhang Or Myself Should Fight For Title Next Over Carla Esparza

Joanna Jedrzejczyk believes only herself or Weili Zhang should face Rose Namajunas next. Carla Esparza is coming off a second-round TKO win over Yan Xioanan which put her on a five-fight winning streak. The former champion has since called for a fight with Namajunas as she believes she’s deserving of a title fight at this […]

Joanna Jedrzejczyk believes only herself or Weili Zhang should face Rose Namajunas next.

Carla Esparza is coming off a second-round TKO win over Yan Xioanan which put her on a five-fight winning streak. The former champion has since called for a fight with Namajunas as she believes she’s deserving of a title fight at this point.

However, nothing is guaranteed yet.

“I know he was definitely impressed with the fight,” Esparza said of UFC president Dana White. “But you want to hear those words ‘You got the fight, it’s your fight’. So until I hear those words, I’m not going to count my chickens before they hatch. But I’m hopeful.

“There are talks of it going to Weili too, but that fight doesn’t make sense. It’s not like she’s had 5-10 title defenses and she lost in a fluke. I don’t think she’s in a place to ask for an immediate rematch, but I think she’s a great fighter.”

Zhang, of course, lost her women’s strawweight title to Namajunas last month and many believe she will get an immediate rematch. Jedrzejczyk — who hasn’t competed since a close defeat to Zhang in their UFC 248 war last year — is another option.

And as far as Jedrzejczyk is concerned, Esparza isn’t as deserving as them.

“This is what she thinks,” she told The Schmo (via Middle Easy). “She has a winning streak but I think the next challenger should be JJ or Weili Zhang. This is what I agree to.

“Both fights are possible and are very interesting not only for me, but for the other girls — Rose or Weili Zhang — for the UFC and the fans so we’ll see what’s going to happen next.”

Whether she gets the fight herself remains to be seen. However, Jedrzejczyk is ready to compete as she has been training for a while now.

“I’ve been training really hard for the last months, even twice a day,” she added. “… I manage my daily schedule, routine for training. … Of course, I feel this fire and I’m very motivated to fight very soon.”

Carla Esparza Hits The Campaign Trail For Strawweight Title Shot

Carla Esparza is hopeful that the UFC will grant her a title shot. The former strawweight champion is waiting anxiously to be the next challenger to the newly crowned two-time UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas after dominating Yan Xiaonan in her …

Continue Reading Carla Esparza Hits The Campaign Trail For Strawweight Title Shot at MMA News.

Zhang Weili Wants Neutral Location For Rose Namajunas Rematch

Zhang Weili has some suggestions for the location of a potential rematch between her and Rose Namajunas. After getting booed the entire week leading up to the fight, Zhang wants the next one at a neutral location. At UFC 261, Namajunas knocked Zhang out in the first round with a head kick. It was Zhang’s […]

At UFC 261, Namajunas knocked Zhang out in the first round with a head kick. It was Zhang’s first career knockout loss and after the crowd in Florida showered her with boos. Zhang admitted that the crowd and the boos did affect her performance and now wants another chance at the belt.

During a livestream, Zhang shared some thoughts about a potential location for the rematch. (H/T mmanews.com)

“Ideally, we would like it to be held in Abu Dhabi,” Zhang said. “This location is neutral to both parties. But now, Rose is the champion, so it might not be up to us. The table has been turned.”

Zhang makes a great point in the fact that Namajunas is the champ now and can do what she wants. One does have to wonder if the location was different, would there be a different outcome?

Either way, Zhang seems ready to move on from her whole UFC 261 experience. Later on during the livestream, she makes comments on how she feels about Namajunas.

“I don’t want to comment on Rose,” Zhang said. “I wanted to touch gloves with her in the fight but she didn’t do it. So I think … I wanted to make friends through MMA, but the other person doesn’t think like that. So oh well. Joanna, I think Joanna is quite cute. She is good, she is cute. She makes things clear and not tries to hide anything. But Rose, she is smart. Very smart.”

UFC President Dana White has hinted at a rematch between the two could be next. However, with Carla Esparza winning against Xiaonan Yan this past weekend, the UFC could go in a different direction.

Do you think a neutral location would have any impact on a rematch between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas?

Zhang Wants Neutral Location For Rose Rematch After UFC 261 Boos

Zhang Weili has a solution for the negative crowd reaction she received in the UFC 261 co-main event: a neutral location for the rematch. At UFC 261, Rose Namajunas defeated Zhang Weili to become the new UFC strawweight champion. This was the first tim…

Continue Reading Zhang Wants Neutral Location For Rose Rematch After UFC 261 Boos at MMA News.

Dana White: Carla Esparza Or Zhang Weili Will Get Next 115lb Title Shot

Despite Carla Esparza’s dominant performance on Saturday, Dana White doesn’t know if she’ll fight for the strawweight title next. Esparza capped off a 5 fight win streak with a second-round stoppage over Yan Xiaonan. It was perhaps the best performance of Esparza’s UFC career, and added another impressive name during a run that includes Michelle […]

Despite Carla Esparza’s dominant performance on Saturday, Dana White doesn’t know if she’ll fight for the strawweight title next.

Esparza capped off a 5 fight win streak with a second-round stoppage over Yan Xiaonan. It was perhaps the best performance of Esparza’s UFC career, and added another impressive name during a run that includes Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez, among others. Given that she is undefeated since 2019 while facing some of the toughest competition in the division, many assumed it would be enough to earn her a shot at regaining the strawweight title.

However, according to White, her current streak combined with the fact that she holds a victory over current champion Rose Namajunas still might not be enough for a title opportunity. With former champ Zhang Weili calling for a rematch, White is unsure what fight to make next (H/T MMA Fighting).

“She looked like a beast tonight,” White said about Esparza on the UFC Vegas 27 post-fight show. “She came out and absolutely dominated. You can tell by the way she was fighting that she was trying to make a statement. Statement made. Message received. We see you.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do next. If we do the rematch (with Zhang Weili) or if we give it to her.”

Given how dominant Esparza has looked as of late, it’s hard to see her get passed up for a title shot. While Zhang had an impressive run up to and during her title reign, she only had one title defense and was stopped by Namajunas in just over 1 minute. On top of that, it would make sense that Namajunas would want the chance to run back her 2014 fight against Esparza, which was for the inaugural strawweight championship.

white will no doubt spend the next few weeks deciding which route to take before making any official. Even if she isn’t offered the title fight next, Esparza sits in the most comfortable spot in her career since she held the belt.

Who do you think Dana White should book for the next title fight? Zhang or Esparza?

Former Champion Joanna J?drzejczyk Gives Update On UFC Return

With crowds and normalcy returning to the Octagon, former strawweight queen Joanna J?drzejczyk is eager to fight and is targeting a late August return. Taking place at UFC 261 on April 24, UFC saw full capacity crowds return, and the energy was undenia…

Continue Reading Former Champion Joanna J?drzejczyk Gives Update On UFC Return at MMA News.