5 keys to victory for Rose Namajunas
Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza will meet again at UFC 274 on May 7. The two athletes were contestants on The Ultimate Fighter season 20. Esparza and Namajunas both went 3-0 on the show to ultimately meet each other in the finale. 'Cookie Monster' had her hand raised to become the UFC's inaugural strawweight champion.
Watch The Ultimate Fighter season 20 finale below:
Though Esparza reigned supreme in their 2014 meeting, both fighters have improved in spades. The most improved seems to be current champion Namajunas. She's gone 9-2 since the initial fight with Esparza and is now a two-time strawweight champion.
The fight at UFC 274 looks set to be close. It's possible that 'Cookie Monster' may have 'Thug' Rose's number and walk away victorious once again. However, the incumbent champion has looked phenomenal of late and is undefeated in rematches, so she may even the score.
Here are 5 keys to victory for Rose Namajunas:
#5. Rose Namajunas must ward off takedowns
It's no secret that Esparza will be looking to take the champion down. Securing the top position will be 'Cookie Monster's best path to victory. The only issue with this is that Rose Namajunas is a much more complete fighter than in 2014. Taking her down and controlling her will be much more difficult.
Clutch fifth round takedown from Rose Namajunas, she won the 4th and 5th but did the judges give her round 1, probably the toss up round.
2nd and 3rd were Zhang Weili’s.
#UFC268 https://t.co/b00A1xGHAI
Rose Namajunas will need to impose her style while being incredibly mindful of the wrestling threat from her opposition. For 'Thug' Rose to retain her belt, she'll need to ward off takedowns, which will be attempted early and often.
No matter how well-rounded she may be, Namajunas has been working best from her feet of late in her career. Both times she's won the belt, it's been from entertaining a striking contest. If there was ever a fight where she's the better striker, it's against Esparza.