Thug Rose’ secures first flyweight win

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