Rose Namajunas wants to be more active and plans to start with revenge.
She wants to return to the octagon in the summer and fight the former champion in the strawweight division, Carla Esparza.
“Rose Namajunas wants to fight by the end of the summer at the latest”, said journalist Ariel Helwani. “She can’t wait to come back. And she will definitely be against Carla Esparza. She hopes to fight twice this year”, added he.
Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza already have a match behind them – in 2014, when Carla Esparza won with a submission in the third round.
Almost 10 years later, Rose Namajunas is a two-time champion and a serious competitor for Carla Esparza.
Carla “The Cookie Monster” Esparza last fought in May 2021, defeating via TKO Xiaonan Yan, extending her winning streak to 5 wins. Her personal MMA record is 18-6-0 (W-L-D).
Rose Namajunas regained the title last year after beating Weili Zhang by knockout in UFC 162. She successfully defended it afterward in a rematch with a split decision in November.