Rose Namajunas looked arguably the best she has ever looked at flyweight in the main event of UFC Fight Night Denver, taking a clear unanimous decision win over Tracy Cortez.
Namajunas dropped Cortez, who took this fight on short notice, in the opening minutes of the fight. The former two-time strawweight champion subsequently put on a striking clinic, keeping her distance and landing on her opponent whichever way possible.
Cortez battled back with her grappling, but Namajunas answered with her own skills. The #11-ranked contender tried to mount a lot of offense in the fifth round, but by then it was too late.
Though she can always pinpoint things in her performance to nitpick, Namajunas told the crew on ESPN's UFC Post Show that she was satisfied with how she did in the cage.
I felt really happy with myself, but...Tracy's really tough," Namajunas said. "She definitely was durable. Even though I dropped her in the beginning, I knew I probably should have jumped on her right away because I let her recover a little bit.
Ultimately, I just felt I was better," Namajunas added.
Rose Namajunas Hopes To Bring The UFC To Lithuania
Namajunas moved up to flyweight in late 2023, about a year-and-a-half removed from losing the UFC strawweight title to Carla Esparza at UFC 274. "Thug Rose" fell to defeat in her 125-pound debut against Manon Fiorot but has now won back-to-back fights. Prior to Saturday's win, she beat Amanda Ribas in a March Fight Night main event.
The former 115-pound champ entered this fight at No. 6 in the flyweight rankings. Positioned above her are champion Alexa Grasso, former champion and upcoming title challenger Valentina Shevchenko, Fiorot, Erin Blanchfield, Maycee Barber, and former strawweight champion and flyweight title challenger Jéssica Andrade.
Namajunas feels ready for a crack at the gold now, though she expressed interest in trying to get a win back over Fiorot. Be it a rematch with the Frenchwoman or title shot, Namajunas has an idea for an interesting location she would love to see the UFC host a card: Lithuania.
I had this vision...I want to fight in Lithuania one day, bring the UFC to Lithuania if that could even be possible," Namajunas said. "I would love to rematch Manon or [face] anybody for the belt, whatever. That's my dream come true, but anything the UFC has in mind, I'm cool with.
Lithuania is the home country of Namajunas' parents. The UFC is yet to stage an event in the European nation.