Rose Namajunas secured her first career MMA win in the flyweight division when she defeated Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision in the main event of a UFC Fight Night at the APEX Facility in Las Vegas on the morning of Sunday 24 March 2024.
Namajunas, a former two-time strawweight champion, was beaten by Manon Fiorot in her flyweight debut in September last year and was desperate to avoid a third straight loss overall, but she improved to 12-6 with a first ‘W’ in the 125 lb (56.7 kg) division.
Namajunas used superior movement and technique to outpoint Ribas (who drops to 13-5 and has alternated between wins and losses in her last eight matches) 49-46 49-46 48-47 on the judges’ score cards.
“I'll be watching that Manon [Fiorot] vs. Erin Blanchfield fight [next week’s UFC event]," 'Thug Rose' told UFC commentator Paul Felder during her post-fight interview. "I know Maycee [Barber] looked incredible as well so maybe one of those girls.”
The rest of the main card saw Karl Williams overcome Justin Tafa via unanimous decision in the heavyweight co-main event; Edmen Shahbazyan made quick work of AJ Dobson in the middleweight division; South Africa’s Cameron Saaiman suffered a second successive defeat when they was stopped by Payton Talbott in the bantamweight division; and in the featherweight category, Youssef Zalal and Fernando Padilla secured submission wins over Billy Quarantillo and Luis Pajuelo respectively.
The UFC continues next weekend with a Fight Night at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, headlined by a women’s flyweight match between Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT: RIBAS VS. NAMAJUNAS - MAIN CARD RESULTS
- Main event: Women’s flyweight: Rose Namajunas def. Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision (49-46 49-46 48-47), R5, 5:00
- Heavyweight: Karl Williams def. Justin Tafa via unanimous decision (30-27 29-28 29-28), R3, 5:00
- Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan def. AJ Dobson via KO (punches), R1, 4:43
- Bantamweight: Payton Talbott def. Cameron Saaiman via TKO (punches), R2, 0:21
- Featherweight: Youssef Zalal def. Billy Quarantillo via submission (rear-naked choke), R2, 1:50
- Featherweight: Fernando Padilla def. Luis Pajuelo via submission (brabo choke), R1, 2:45