![]() If Namajunas has learned anything in her time in the UFC, though, it’s not to look ahead.Īnd so she’s just intent on being the best she can be and letting the chips fall where they may. So that would suggest she’s a good bet to get past Esparza on Saturday. She’s 6-2 overall in those eight bouts, but is 4-0 in the rematches. ![]() She’s fought two times each against Zhang Weili, Jessica Andrade, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Tecia Torres. Namajunas has one secret edge, though: She’s brilliant in rematches. ![]() This is a fun fight now at this time, with both these girls being so much more mature here in the UFC.” “It’s almost like Carla, when she went into the fight with Joanna Jedrzejczyk, it almost felt like she felt she didn’t belong there at the time. “Neither one of them are the same fighter that they were when they first squared off,” White said. White said Esparza, too, has grown more comfortable with her position as one of the elite women in the game. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) 12, 2014 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. She’s won five in a row and was particularly impressive in her last three, wins over Michelle Waterson, Marina Rodriguez and Yan Xiaonan.Ĭarla Esparza celebrates after submitting Rose Namajunas for the first UFC strawweight championship on Dec. She’s fighting an opponent in Esparza who not only defeated her decisively the last time, but has also improved considerably. I mean, her stand-up game is unbelievable.” “She’s worked hard and done what she’s needed to do. “She always showed signs of super talent,” White told Yahoo Sports. That’s usually the sign of a successful athlete. UFC president Dana White isn’t surprised by what she’s done, because he saw glimpses of what she was capable of doing during the filming of TUF 20.Īnd he noted that she went out and turned her weaknesses into strengths. Namajunas has beaten a who’s who of the best women’s talent of the last decade, and often done it in decisive fashion. I’ve been pretty spot on with that and so what I learned is to keep doing my best and things will usually work out.” So far, when I’ve prepared my best and I’ve done my best, nobody can mess with me. “Whereas now, I’ve learned that I have the ability to be the best. “Back then, I thought that as long as I show up, I’m good, I’m the best,” she said. It’s one of the many areas of growth in her game, though. ![]() She met Esparza, who had beaten Angela Hill, Torres and Penne on the show, in the finals.Ĭonfidence has often been an issue for her, but it wasn’t that night. She went 3-0 on the show, submitting Randa Markos and Wood with Kimuras and Alex Chambers with a rear naked choke. The growth in Namajunas has been remarkable. This time around, Namajunas is a solid -225 favorite at BetMGM, coming into the bout 9-2 in her last 11 and having established herself as one of the OGs of the women's game along with Julianna Peña, Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko. “For me, it’s a little more challenging when everybody ,” Namajunas said. She also admits there is pressure on her this time around.įew athletes are that open, particularly when it comes to their shortcomings. ![]() She is open about her emotions and concedes she quit against Esparza. Namajunas is one of the most blunt athletes in the world. Two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas is 4-0 in rematches. ![]()
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