Rose Namajunas took her first step in a quest to succeed in the highest of the flyweight division, outpointing Amanda Ribas (13-5) by unanimous determination in the primary occasion of UFC Struggle Evening in Las Vegas.
Namajunas (12-6), a two-time UFC champion at strawweight, ended a two-bout dropping streak. Two of the judges gave Namajunas 4 of the 5 rounds, and the opposite choose scored three in her favor.
“Man, it is good to get your hand raised,” mentioned Namajunas, who got here in ranked No. 9 in ESPN’s flyweight rankings regardless of having misplaced her 125-pound debut to Manon Fiorot in September.
Ribas (13-5), who’s ranked ninth at strawweight, was in a position to rating 4 takedowns, however she ended up in backside place in all however one event. Namajunas didn’t ship a variety of harm from the highest, however she had practically seven minutes of management time. Ribas tried just a few submissions however made little effort to get again up, and that value her.
When the battle was standing, Ribas was busier with strike makes an attempt, however Namajunas was way more correct, touchdown at just below 50%. Neither girl wobbled the opposite with strikes. Namajunas managed the vary all battle lengthy, however the energy she had proven at strawweight was not current in opposition to Ribas.
“I do know I nonetheless received issues to work on,” Namajunas mentioned. “She did actually good, however I used to be in a position to simply keep calm in there.”
Afterward, when requested whom she needs subsequent, Namajunas talked about the 2 flyweights who meet in subsequent weekend’s UFC primary occasion, Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield, in addition to Maycee Barber. All are ranked forward of her within the ESPN rankings.