UFC 268 (Co-Main event): Rose Namajunas rises up to the occasion and retains her strawweight title against Zhang Weili

UFC 268 (Co-Main event): Rose Namajunas rises up to the occasion and retains her strawweight title against Zhang Weili

Rose Namajunas at UFC 268

The title rematch for women’s strawweight belt was booked between the champion Rose Namajunas (10-4 MMA, 8-3-UFC) and the former champion Zhang Weili (21-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC). Namajunas knocked out Weili in the very first round of their previous fight, Weili claimed it was a fluke and she wanted revenge in this one. Namajunas was confident in her skills and she was planning to keep the belt all for herself.

Round 1 – Namajunas and Weili got to the center of the octagon and Weili started attacking with some low leg kicks to keep Rose at bay. Rose moved well and tried to close the distance with her jabs. Weili once again came in with the leg kick but Rose blasted her with a couple of punches, Weili initiated the clinch and got Rose to the ground, she did some damage but Rose got back up. Just as the round was ending Rose went for a front kick to the face, Weili slipped and got right back up.

Round 2 – Weili was staying true to those leg kicks and Rose’s leg was now showing some visible signs of damage. Rose was keeping her at kicking range, but nothing significant landed from her, Weili was moving well, and those leg kicks were starting to add up, a couple of exchanges in close, and Weili stunned Rose with a big right hand, Rose recovered well and got the takedown. She got up and got a takedown of her own.

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Round 3 – Rose was walking down Weili, she moved in with jabs but the leg kicks from Weili were really hurting her. Weili was doing a beautiful job of landing the counters, and she was getting the better of Rose on most of the exchange, a big hook landed from Weili, but Rose fired right back and Weili once again slipped. Weili got another takedown just as the round was ending.

Rose Namajunas got a crucial takedown in round number 5 and got the split decision victory at UFC 268

Round 4 – Pretty even round, Weili landed a big straight hand that hurt Rose. Namajunas comes in hot and exchanges some heavy blows. Weili stood her ground, and attempted another takedown, Rose stuffed it, but she got taken down as Weili took her back. Namajunas scrambles and ended up on top, she finished the round on the top.

Round 5 – Both athletes were fired up but the fight had to be stopped as Rose forgot her mouthpiece, she got it back and the action continued. To no one’s surprise, Rose secured a beautiful takedown and landed some big shots. Rose was not landing anything significant but she was moving well enough to stop the referee to make them stand up, Rose finished the round on top. What a fight! Another great addition to UFC 268.

Also read – UFC 268: Marlon Vera ends Frankie Edgar with a brutal front kick to the face