Rose Namajunas declares herself 'a dangerous mother(expletive),' wants title shot next

DALLAS – Strawweight contender Rose Namajunas (6-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) hasn’t been promised a shot at the winner of Saturday’s title showdown, but it’s likely no accident the UFC brought her to Dallas to be on hand for the event.

And if her name is, indeed, the next on the list, “Thug” Rose said she’s ready for the call.

“I guess who else is there, really?” Namajunas asked reporters following a Thursday workout for fans and media. “You got Claudia (Gadelha) and Karolina (Kowalkiewicz), but they already fought the champ once before – and Claudia twice, so I don’t know. It just seems fitting.”

At Saturday’s UFC 211 event at American Airlines Center, current champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk seeks her fifth consecutive title defense when she takes on Brazilian slugger Jessica Andrade.

Namajunas’ comments made it clear she expects Jedrzejczyk to retain her belt, but the 24-year-old doubled down when pressed for a specific prediction.

“I see Joanna probably winning,” Namajunas said. “Joanna, I think, is just the better technical and overall complete fighter.”

Namajunas is currently ranked No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA strawweight rankings, but her point is well made. Following a scintillating victory over Michelle Waterson in April, Namajunas’ star power has never been higher, and she could leapfrog a few higher-ranked foes who have already had their chance at the champ.

Namajunas, of course, was a finalist on “The Ultimate Fighter 20” in 2014 and had a chance to become the first-ever UFC strawweight champion, but she was submitted by Carla Esparza.

Two-and-a-half years later, Namajunas believes she’s more prepared for that type of opportunity.

“When you think about my age, my experience level in just fighting, itself – those things combined – I wasn’t supposed to really be to the level at which I was at at that age,” Namajunas said. “Not based on history in other fighters. If I would have won against Carla, I would have been the youngest champ in the UFC ever, beating Jon Jones, and he’s young. I think that right now it means a lot to me to be experienced, not just as a fighter, but as a woman.”

So on Saturday, Namajunas will prove an interested witness at UFC 211, and her immediate future may very well hang in the balance. It’s an opportunity she welcomes, and the dynamic contender believes her newfound maturity and mental focus could very well will her to a title.

“Even with my zombie self sometimes, I’m a dangerous mother(expletive), I tell you that,” Namajunas said. “But just when I’m mentally right, there’s no one that can beat me.”

To hear more from Namajunas, check out the video above.

And for more on UFC 211, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.