Rose Namajunas confident ahead of 2nd UFC title shot: 'I'm f*cking good'

NEW YORK – Rose Namajunas is forgetting her previous shortcomings as she attempts to claim the UFC strawweight title from champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 217.

Namajunas (6-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) came up short in the inaugural 115-pound title fight, when she met Carla Esparza in December 2014. She’s been building her way back to the top. However, Jedrzejczyk (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) has since taken over the division and become one of the most dominant champions in the sport.

Some lessons need to be learned the hard way. Namajunas, No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA strawweight rankings, was only 21 when she first fought for UFC gold. She’s a more mature and experienced fighter now, and she said that’s one of many reasons she’s going to end No. 1-ranked Jedrzejczyk’s undefeated streak.

“I do the best that I can possibly do just given my circumstances,” Namajunas said at today’s UFC 217 open workouts. “I was very young my first title fight. There was definitely a lot of things being thrown at me. Now I’ve just got to take every experience and learn from it. I’m not perfect, I don’t try to act like I am, but I’m (expletive) good.”

UFC 217 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. Namajunas challenges Jedrzejczyk on the pay-per-view main card following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Although Namajunas has come a long way since her first crack at a UFC title, her underdog status (+425 to -600 Jedrzejczyk) shows the betting public still doesn’t view her as ready. Namajunas, though, said she full expects to walk away from UFC 217 with the title around her waist.

“Definitely always improving,” Namajunas said. “Obviously that sounds cliche, but I’m always trying to become a better version of myself. If I keep doing that, I’m unstoppable.”

For more on UFC 217, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.