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Rose Namajunas Willing To Rematch Old UFC Foe In Lithuania: 'I Would Love To'

Rose Namajunas already has her sights set on avenging her lone flyweight loss in her next fight.

Zain Bando

Sep 2, 2023; Paris, France; Manon Fiorot (red gloves) fights Rose Namajunas (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2023; Paris, France; Manon Fiorot (red gloves) fights Rose Namajunas (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports / Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

Rose Namajunas has accomplished much in her UFC career, including capturing the strawweight title twice. But now her career goals have shifted to 125 pounds, improving her weight class record to 2-1 with a five-round unanimous decision win against the previously unbeaten (in the UFC) Tracy Cortez by unanimous decision Saturday night in the main event.

Namajunas has competed in the UFC for over a decade against some of the sport's greatest female fighters, but she has a bigger, loftier goal: bringing a UFC event to Lithuania.

Namajunas spoke to assembled media at the UFC Denver post-fight press conference and on the ESPN post-fight show regarding what it would mean to fight in a country with deep family ties. Simply put, Namajunas called it a "dream."

UFC Denver News: Hometown Hero Rose Namajunas Defeats Tracy Cortez in Main Event

Rose Namajunas Targets Rematch For Next Fight

"“I had this vision, I want to fight in Lithuania one day,” Namajunas said. "Bring the UFC to Lithuania, and I would love to rematch Manon [Fiorot] or anybody for the belt, whatever. That’s my dream come true, but anything that the UFC has in mind, I’m cool with as well.”

Namajunas said she feels right in the mix at 125 pounds and is open to several options, but rematching Fiorot, the only woman to beat Namajunas at 125 thus far, could re-establish her readiness to chase another championship.

UFC Fight Night Denver: Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez Live Results & Highlights

Namajunas said she is ready "whenever" to fight again, as she sustained no noticeable damage and secured a plethora of takedowns while using crisp, clean boxing techniques to secure the win.

For now, with the trilogy between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko, the two coaches participating in TUF 32, it remains. to be seen where Namajunas, who entered the fight ranked No. 6, fits into the title picture.

Only time will tell, as UFC Denver marked the beginning of consecutive weekends of UFC events through Aug. 24.

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Zain Bando
ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99

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