- Rose Namajunas talked about her first win as a flyweight
- “Thug” wants to face Maycee Barber next and isn’t pushing for an instant title shot
Rose Namajunas was successful in her second flyweight fight and beat Amanda Ribas via decision but is not eager to leapfrog everybody to a title shot.
Rose felt good
Speaking to the media in her UFC Vegas 89 post-fight presser, “Thug” admitted that she realized she has to work on some aspects of her game. However, Namajuans ultimately felt stronger this time around.
“I felt actually pretty good. There was some things to work on. I think I wasn’t as quick as I wanted like as snappy as I wanted to be… my arms are a little bigger but I also could feel my strength was great. So, I think everybody thinks that I’m small or weak or something like that so it’s just good to get better at the grappling aspect of things and just kind of keep all of my skills up at a high level like no weakness anywhere,” Namajunas said.
No shortcut to the gold
Namajunas also shared her thoughts on the idea of possibly getting a title shot after her impressive win. For “Thug,” she would be glad to take it if the UFC decides to give it to her but she prefers to “work her way up.”
“Had things gone a little bit different of a way, I probably would have been in that title shot you know, after Manon [Fiorot fight],” Namajunas said. “But it is what it is. It was kind of weird not being ranked too and just like okay now like can I just get ranked now and then it was like okay so I think that just kind of like threw me off a little bit but it was kind of cool and like I was happy to like you know instead of just being the champ and then jumping straight into a super fight champ versus champ, go up a weight class, I think it is kind of cool to just work your way up and do it that way.”
“I think becoming the champ this way would be way more impressive in my opinion but you know at the same time, like if they want to give me that, I’ll take it,” she continued.
Rose wants Maycee
Namajunas said she would be watching Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot but at the same time, she also has her eyes locked on Maycee Barber. Namajunas revealed that she remembers Barber wanting a piece of her back then and she would like to give it a go this time.
“I think she’s a savage,” Namajunas said. You know, she’s a big girl, she’s strong. She’s just like a bully in there. I knew her when she was really young and she’s a lot different now. And, you know, she kind of like, called me out back when she was younger and things like that. So, you know, I think it’s kind of funny, but she’s really tough. That would definitely motivate me and get me going every day because I know she throws with really bad intentions. But yeah, anybody else is cool, too. Erin Blanchfield, Manon, title. Yeah, it don’t matter.”
Namajunas is now 1-1 as a flyweight. It is yet to be known where her win over Ribas would position her in the division but one thing certain is that “Thug” is now one of the most sought after 125-pounders in the promotion.
Watch Namajunas’ full presser below:
