Rose Namajunas hopes 'good performance' leads to UFC title shot in chaotic division

11-06-2025

Rose Namajunas hopes 'good performance' leads to UFC title shot in chaotic division
Rose Namajunas doesn't think the idea of a title shot with a UFC on ESPN 69 win is far-fetched.
Namajunas (13-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) meets Miranda Maverick (15-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in Saturday's co-main event (ESPN, ESPN+) at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
The former two-time UFC strawweight champion is coming off a November loss to Erin Blanchfield, who just saw her fight against Maycee Barber at UFC on ESPN 68 scrapped. With the division wide open, Namajunas isn't ruling out the possibility of jumping into the title picture with an impressive showing against Maverick.
"I don't know, I hope a title shot," Namajunas told MMA Junkie on what a win over Maverick does. "Obviously that's what I'm hoping for, so I've really got to put a good performance on and just do my best, and really just let God take the wheel, and whatever opportunities come way, I'll be ready for it.
"But I don't know how you do the matchmaking thing, like I don't know: Do you match up Erin with Alexa (Grasso) or Natalia (Silva), or do you put Natalia in the title? I don't know. Yeah, I'm not a matchmaker, so I'm glad I don't have the job."
Namajunas has sparred with Maverick on numerous occasions, but she doesn't take away too much from their training sessions.
"In training, things are a little bit slower and things aren't as intentional, but for the most part, I think she kind of sort of throws similar combinations most of the time," Namajunas said. "And she's kind of doing a similar game plan over, I'd say, the last few years. I see in her younger fights she was a little bit more aggressive and things like that. Maybe she changes it up a little bit. Who knows? But we're ready for it all."