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Months after losing her strawweight title at UFC 274, Rose Namajunas is set to make her return to combat sports when she meets Gillian Robertson in a grappling match next week.
Last time out, 'Thug' Rose competed in what is being considered the worst-ever title fight in the history of the promotion in a bout against her old nemesis Carla Esparza. The grapple-heavy fighter managed to implement her gameplan and snatch away the title when the pair met for the second time on May 7.
Set to be hosted by Fury Pro Grappling, Rose Namajunas will put her grappling ability to the test when she clashes with Gillian Robertson—the girl who holds the record for most submission wins in UFC women's history—in a match next week.
Despite having much less success inside the octagon than her upcoming opponent, Robertson has shown the ability to finish fights and is a master when it comes to locking up her signature rear-naked choke submission.
In her last octagon appearance, the 27-year-old delivered a sickening finish over Mariya Agapova midway through the second round of their matchup on September 17. After the European refused to tap out to the submission attempt, she was choked unconscious and the resulting image was the stuff of nightmares.
Gillian Robertson is a flyweight with a record of 11 wins and 7 losses. While she hasn't had a sustained run of good form inside the cage, the Canadian holds a win over some tough fighters, with Molly McCann arguably being the most notable.
What's next for Rose Namajunas?
Rose Namajunas has taken a short hiatus from the sport of mixed martial arts after suffering a controversial defeat at the hands of Carla Esparza almost eight months ago.
The loss to 'Cookie Monster' brought an end to the 30-year-old's impressive three-fight win streak and cut short her second reign as UFC women's strawweight champion.
In Namajunas' absence, Carla Esparza made a failed attempt at defending her throne, which now resides in the hands of Zhang Weili. The Chinese woman has been locked inside the octagon twice with Rose and both times it was the American who came away with the victory.
Although there is no official word on her return to the UFC, the fan-favorite has a number of potential opponents waiting for her, with Marina Rodriguez, Amanda Lemos, and Yan Xiaonan all viable options for the star.
