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Rose Namajunas has a claim to being the greatest strawweight of all time. While fans have witnessed Namajunas' technique mature, they have also seen her bulletproof mindset emerge inside the UFC.
As the only woman in UFC history to recapture a lost title, Rose Namajunas is a special breed of fighter. After conquering the Polish mountain that is Joanna Jędrzejczyk, not once, but twice, 'Thug' sits in her own league when it comes to determining the very best at 115-pounds.
Of course, arguments can be made that Jędrzejczyk earned a chair at the table of greats. For now, however, it appears Rose Namajunas is making a convincing case she is the best ever in her weightclass.
Let's take a closer look at 5 reasons why Rose Namajunas is the greatest strawweight of all time.
#5. Rose Namajunas defeated Joanna Jędrzejczyk twice
In 2017, 'Thug' did what many before her couldn't, she finished Joanna Jędrzejczyk with strikes. At the time, many pegged Rose Namajunas as a huge underdog. With five consecutive title defenses, the general public struggled to imagine Jędrzejczyk being uprooted from her throne.
The dominance that Jędrzejczyk put forth in each octagon appearance painted her as one of the fiercest champions on roster. Having earned those five title defenses, she will no doubt go down as one of the best strawweights in her own right. But the once Polish queen has to live knowing Rose Namajunas beat her to the punch -- twice.
'Thug' left no doubt to her greatness when rematching Jędrzejczyk after their initial abrupt encounter. That night, the footwork and boxing of Namajunas kept the former champion flustered.
Their second bout lasted the entire twenty-five minutes. In the end, Rose Namajunas would retain gold against the former Polish champion. As the only fighter to beat Jędrzejczyk twice, 'Thug' is in the running for 'GOAT' status at 115-pounds.
#4. Rose Namajunas rises to the moment
After losing in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter to Carla Esparza, Rose Namajunas underwent dramatic mental and physical changes. After all, at the time of the finale, Namajunas had only fought three pro bouts. Following her devastating rear-naked choke defeat in 2014, 'Thug Rose' had to reassess how she handled big moments.
After Rose Namajunas lost to Esparza, the strawweight did fix most of her errors, like getting too emotional, for instance. Instead of faltering under the bright lights, the strawweight learned to embrace high pressure situations.
As a result, at UFC 217, Rose Namajunas was afforded an opportunity at iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, against Jędrzejczyk. The 29-year-old realized her championship potential after knocking Jędrzejczyk out in the first round under the brightest of lights.
At UFC 261 in front of a sold out crowd in Florida, Rose Namajunas met another massive moment when she was paired with China's Weili Zhang. The former champion would again rise on the world stage and taste gold. After finishing Zhang with a lightning-fast headkick, Rose Namajunas made history and recaptured the title she lost nearly two years prior.
#3. Captured the strawweight title twice
Rose Namajunas is remarkable in high-pressure fights. This has led to the two-time strawweight champion realizing unparalleled UFC women's division success.
After her 2017 knockout victory against Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Namajunas began her first reign as the strawweight champion. While she would successfully defend the title against Jędrzejczyk in a rematch, she ultimately dropped the belt while trying for her second title defense.
Rose Namajunas lost her belt in 2019 after Jéssica Andrade powehoused her way to victory with a vicious slam knockout. The performance was jaw-dropping. Interestingly, the two would meet again, and Rose Namajunas would handily outwork Andrade to avenge her emphatic defeat.
The 115-pound belt then just became a hot potato as Andrade would lose next to Weili Zhang while attempting to defend the strap on enemy territory. In the end, though, the belt found its way back into the hands of Rose Namajunas. After besting Weili Zhang by knockout and then again by unanimous decision at UFC 268, it's hard to argue with Rose Namajunas' status as the best.
#2. Rose Namajunas' striking has caught up with her grappling
Known primarily as a grappler earlier in her career, Rose Namajunas' overall skillset has rounded out nicely under the threat of UFC competition. While the power in her hands and feet would lead one to believe she is a striker, her credentials and fighting statistics reflect a well-rounded athlete.
Another reason why Rose Namajunas is the greatest strawweight of all time is her ability to blend mixed martial arts inside the octagon. It's easy to assume she is a natural striker judging by the fluidity of her movement during fights. However, the two-time strawweight champion is well-versed on the ground and that is where her MMA foundation first solidified.
With eight of her eleven MMA victories coming by submission, the numbers grossly underestimate her standup ability. Rose Namajunas owns an average of more than four strikes per minute in any contest. Conversely, the two-time champion absorbs roughly an equal amount of punishment she gives out, with a clip of 3.88 strikes absorbed per fifteen minutes (stats courtesy of ESPN).
Known for her mobility, Rose Namajunas is a puzzling yet effective striker. The champion enjoys implementing a variety of angles and stance switches. 'Thug' likes to utilize a sharp jab and highkicks. With forward movement, those two weapons are some of her most powerful. Rose Namajunas' offensive synergy is a prerequisite to being considered in GOAT conversations.
#1. Rose Namajunas is the queen of rematches
When one looks back at the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, rematches are almost always inherently cemented into the fabric of discussion. Not once, not twice, but three times has Rose Namajunas found success in a rematch. In order to be considered the best strawweight in the world, adjustments against high caliber opponents often make the difference between winning or losing.
Given the dominance of former champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk, it was a foregone conclusion that 'Thug' would have to put her belt on the line in an instant rematch against the Pole. Less than a year later, the two met for the championship, but this time Jędrzejczyk was confident her chin would hold up to the power of Namajunas.
While Jędrzejczyk certainly gave Namajunas a competitive fight, she lost a unanimous decision. Namajunas would deliver in a rematch against Adrade too. The fight was a number one contender fight, and the winner would likely face Zhang Weili for the belt. After outpointing the Brazilian, Rose Namajunas expanded her record to 2-0 in UFC rematches.
At UFC 268, Rose Namajunas cemented her claim as the greatest strawweight of all-time. The 29-year-old was unable to capture lightning in a bottle like in her first bout against 'Magnum'. However, Rose Namajunas showed up at Madison Square Garden in New York and closed the chapter with China's Weili Zhang for good.
When one discusses who truly is the greatest strawweight of all-time, it will be nearly impossible not to mention Rose Namajunas. The strawweight champion has come out of every rematch with her hand raised. 'Thug' has amassed title defenses during two separate reigns and seemingly still has plenty of work left to prove she is the GOAT at 115-pounds.
Do you believe Rose Namajunas is the greatest strawweight of all-time?
