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Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza 2 set for UFC 274
Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza are finally set to run it back. According to Sports Illustrated, Namjunas and Esparza have agreed to fight one another in the co-main event of UFC 274 on May 7 in Phoenix, Arizona. The event will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. A […]
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Joanna Jedrzejczyk shares her prediction for upcoming Carla Esparza vs. Rose Namajunas rematch
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has given her thoughts on the upcoming rematch between Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza. While she hasn’t competed inside the Octagon for over two years, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is still a pretty important factor to consider in the UFC’s strawweight division. The former champion is reportedly eyeing a return to the cage this summer, […]
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Rose Namajunas explains how she benefited from loss to Carla Esparza: “I needed a piece of the humble pie”
Rose Namajunas on an episode of UFC’s ‘Run it Back’ YouTube series commented on how she benefited from her loss to Carla Esparza way back in 2014: “Man I just had to stop being an a**hole. [laughs] No I mean, not that, but just like be, have self-awareness you know what I mean like, I […]
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Former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk says she was offered the winner of ‘Esparza vs. Namajunas 2’, but plans to rematch Weili Zhang
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is aiming to return to MMA competition in 2022. In a recent interview on the ‘Kanal Sportowy Show’ in Poland, Joanna commented: “Everyone thinks I’m not in the UFC anymore. I am, I just dropped out of the ranking, because I haven’t fought for a dozen or so months, but I’m coming back […]
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Carla Esparza set to challenge UFC champion Rose Namajunas in 2022
Carla Esparza will get her much deserved rematch against Rose Namajunas in 2022 according to UFC President Dana White. Esparza (18-6 MMA) is currently on a five-fight winning streak, her latest being a first round stoppage victory over Yan Xiaonan back in May. Meanwhile, Rose Namajunas (11-4 MMA) most recently competed at last month’s UFC […]
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Rose Namajunas can’t figure out why UFC won’t “get behind” Carla Esparza for a rematch: “Nothing really interests me other than Carla”
UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas can’t understand why the UFC won’t back Carla Esparza to get a title shot. At UFC 268, Rose Namajunas was able to defeat Zhang Weili for the second time this year to successfully retain her UFC strawweight title. Carla Esparza, meanwhile, finished Yan Xiaonan in May to take her current […]
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Zhang Weili reflects on fights with Rose Namajunas, feels ‘enlightened’ by experiences
The rivalry between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas has come to an end for the time being. UFC 268 kicked off the month of November and featured two big title fight rematches. In the evening’s co-main event, China’s first UFC champion in Zhang looked to get redemption opposite her successor from their UFC 261 meeting […]
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Carla Esparza responds after Dana White suggests the UFC has another “option” at strawweight
Carla Esparza has responded after Dana White suggested that the UFC has another “option” for Rose Namajunas at strawweight. After Namajunas (11-4 MMA) defeated Zhang Weili (21-3 MMA) for a second time in the co-headliner of last Saturday’s UFC 268 event, many assumed that former champ Carla Esparza would be next to challenge ‘Thug Rose’. […]
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What’s next for the stars of UFC 268?
The UFC returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since November of 2019 for a stacked UFC 268 card. The event saw two titles on the line as Kamaru Usman was looking to defend his welterweight title in a rematch against Colby Covington. Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang were also running it back […]
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Carla Esparza respectfully requests rematch with Rose Namajunas for UFC women’s title
Former champion Carla Esparza respectfully requested a rematch with current champ Rose Namajunas for the UFC women’s strawweight title. Esparza is arguably the No. 1 contender in the UFC women’s strawweight division, so she watched anxiously this past Saturday night as Namajunas duked it out with former champ Weili Zhang at UFC 268. It was […]
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Dana White not ready to give Carla Esparza a title shot following UFC 268: “We have an option”
Dana White is not ready to proclaim Carla Esparza as the next strawweight title challenger, this despite Rose Namajunas’ win at UFC 268. Esparza (18-6 MMA), the promotions former strawweight champion, is currently on a five-fight winning streak and seemingly has the best case for a title shot when compared to any of the other […]
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Rose Namajunas wants Carla Esparza next following win over Weili Zhang at UFC 268
UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas wants to fight Carla Esparza next following her big win over Weili Zhang at UFC 268. Namajunas edged out a split decision over Zhang in a razor-thin fight that served as the co-main event of UFC 268. It was another fantastic performance by Namajunas, who overcame a slow start […]
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Rose Namajunas discusses the trash talking that was taking place during her rematch with Zhang Weili at UFC 268
UFC women’s strawweight champ Rose Namajunas discussed the trash-talking that was taking place during her rematch with Zhang Weili at UFC 268. Namajunas and Zhang met in the co-main event of UFC 268 in what was a highly-anticipated rematch between the current 115lbs women’s champ and the former champion. These two previously met back at […]
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Weili Zhang issues statement following split decision loss to Rose Namajunas at UFC 268
Weili Zhang issued a statement following her split decision loss to UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas at UFC 268. Zhang fought as hard as she could over the course of 25 minutes, but ultimately it was Namajunas who edged out a narrow split decision on the judges’ scorecards. For Zhang, it is her second […]
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Zhang Weili reacts following second straight loss to Rose Namajunas at UFC 268
Zhang Weili was hoping to reclaim the strawweight title when she squared off with Rose Namajunas tonight at Madison Square Garden. Zhang (21-2 MMA) and Namajunas (11-4 MMA) had originally clashed back at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug’ emerging victorious by way of knockout. Rose Namajunas had entered Saturday’s immediate rematch on a two-fight […]
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UFC 268 Bonus Report: Gaethje vs. Chandler get FOTN
The Octagon returned to MSG for tonight’s UFC 268 event, a 14-bout fight card headlined by a rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. The highly anticipated welterweight title fight rematch proved to be another thrilling war. Kamaru Usman was able to get off to a strong start in the fight and wound up dropping […]
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Pros react after Rose Namajunas defeats Zhang Weili at UFC 268
Tonight’s UFC 268 event was co-headlined by a women’s strawweight title fight rematch between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Namajunas (11-4 MMA) and Zhang (21-2 MMA) had originally clashed back at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug’ emerging victorious by way of knockout. The now two-time UFC strawwweight champion, Rose Namajunas, entered the rematch on […]
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UFC 268 Results: Rose Namajunas defeats Zhang Weili (Highlights)
Tonight’s UFC 268 event is co-headlined by a women’s strawweight title fight rematch between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Namajunas (10-4 MMA) and Zhang (21-2 MMA) initially squared off back at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug’ emerging victorious by way of knockout. The now two-time UFC strawwweight champion, Rose Namajunas, enters the rematch on […]
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Zhang Weili details intense training for UFC 268, including simulated boos and Henry Cejudo yelling “Go back to China!”
Zhang Weili is looking to make a statement when she squares off with Rose Namajunas for a second time in tonight’s UFC 268 co-main event. Zhang (21-2 MMA) and Namajunas (10-4 MMA) originally collided back at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug Rose’ emerging victorious by way of first round knockout. The loss snapped a […]
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UFC 268: ‘Usman vs Covington 2’ Live Results and Highlights
The Octagon returns to Madison Square Garden for UFC 268, a fourteen-bout fight card headlined by a rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. Usman (19-1 MMA) and Covington (16-2 MMA) originally collided back at UFC 245 in December of 2019, with the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ emerging victorious by of a thrilling fifth round TKO. Since […]
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Rose Namajunas reveals her “ultimate life purpose”, plans for UFC retirement
UFC star Rose Namajunas has revealed that her ultimate life purpose, beyond mixed martial arts, is to become a farmer. This weekend at UFC 268, Rose Namajunas will attempt to cement her position as the best strawweight in the world when she defends her UFC title against Zhang Weili. It comes just months after Namajunas […]
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UFC 268 | Pro fighters make their picks for Rose Namajunas vs. Weili Zhang 2 title fight
In the co-main event of UFC 268, Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang are running it back just seven months after Namajunas scored a 78-second TKO win. Heading into the fight, the champ is a +100 underdog while Zhang is the -120 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get […]
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Zhang Weili believes fans were more interested in her rematching Rose Namajunas than Carla Esparza
Despite the strawweight division being loaded with contenders, Zhang Weili will get an instant rematch with new champion Rose Namajunas. First colliding with Namajunas at UFC 261 in April, Zhang (21-2) attempted to defend her 115-pound UFC crown for just the second time – her first coming over the legendary Joanna Jedrzejczyk in March 2020. […]
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Rose Namajunas reacts to Zhang Weili’s changes ahead of UFC 268: ‘Whatever she did last time didn’t work’
Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili are set to lock horns once again. As their UFC 268 rematch draws near on Nov. 6, the former champion turned challenger in Zhang has made some changes by altering her appearance with a new hairstyle as well as moving her training camp stateside. “I think it’s sort of expected […]
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Henry Cejudo says ‘Zhang Weili 2.0 is coming’ ahead of UFC 268
Henry Cejudo is feeling rather confident in his new training partner. Ahead of her upcoming title fight rematch with Rose Namajunas, former champion Zhang Weili has taken her talents to the U.S. where she’s training in Scottsdale. Aiding “Magnum” at the Fight Ready team along the way is none other than the former dual-division titlist […]
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Carla Esparza on Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili 2: ‘I got next’
Carla Esparza feels she’s done enough to earn a UFC title shot. Unfortunately for the inaugural strawweight champion, the UFC has gone in a different direction. At UFC 268 on Nov. 6 in Madison Square Garden, Esparza will have to watch the immediate title rematch pitting new two-time champion Rose Namajunas against Zhang Weili in […]
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Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili rematch opening odds show no clear favorite
Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili are set to collide once more. With the fight now official for UFC 268 on Nov. 6 in New York City at the world-famous Madison Square Garden, opening odds for the strawweight title rematch have been released. BetMGM has Namajunas vs Zhang 2 currently dead even with each fighter at […]
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Two title fights made official for UFC 268 including Rose Namajunas vs Weili Zhang 2
Two title fights are now official for November’s UFC 268 event, including a women’s strawweight rematch between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Namajunas (10-4 MMA) and Zhang (21-2 MMA) originally collided at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug Rose’ walking away a nasty first round finish (see that here). Prior to the setback, Weili Zhang […]