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#2. Rose Namajunas vs. Marina Rodriguez
UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza is the only person to defeat Marina Rodriguez thus far in her career. Rodriguez has won four in a row since and might be in a position to command a title shot if she were a bigger star. What she has earned is a big-name fight next time out and this would certainly give her that.
Rose Namajunas is in a tricky position following her own recent loss to Esparza. With little demand for a rematch and other title contenders already scheduled to fight, she might have a longer path back to the belt than she would have hoped. To do so, she will have to pick up some quality wins and this would certainly be one.
Namajunas would provide the perfect test for Rodriguez. If the lesser-known fighter were to win, she would then be in a great position to challenge for the title. If 'Thug Rose' wins, she will be able to jump straight back into the title conversation where she belongs.
#1. Carla Esparza vs. Jedrzejczyk/Zhang winner - UFC strawweight title bout
Carla Esparza is the new UFC women's strawweight champion. While that fact is likely still sinking in for her, fans and matchmakers alike will already start looking ahead to who ought to be next. Given how her fight with Namajunas went down, an immediate rematch could be ruled out.
Instead, the UFC may have a ready-made number one contender's bout already booked. Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Weili Zhang are scheduled to fight for a second time on June 11. Whoever wins that bout will snatch pole position in the race for a strawweight title bout.
Either fight would be huge for the division. Some felt Zhang defeated Rose Namajunas in her last fight so a win would give her a chance at redemption. A bout between Esparza and Jedrzejczyk would likely be even bigger, however, and it would be fascinating to see how a rematch between the two would go down.
For additional information on women fighters, check out the video below:
