The rivalry between Rose Namajunas & Joanna Jedrzejczyk in UFC’s strawweight division is one of its most significant in recent history, often serving as an indication of a shifting of guard.
Following her UFC 275 stoppage loss to Zhang Weili in June, Jedrzejczyk announced her retirement from the sport. Namajunas stopped Jedrzejczyk in November 217 for the title and beat her in UFC 223,. This was her reaction to Jedrzejczyk’s turning the page.
” I have always been thankful for all she did for me and my career, both in elevating me and pushing me. She was the benchmark for what we’ve chased for many years,” Namajunas said to MMA Fighting. She deserves a lot of thanks.
“Obviously, we’ve had our rivalry, and there’s been times where all I wanted to do was punch her in the face, and now to see everything come full circle, I’m very happy for her. I want only the best for her, and for her to just be happy in life. She should know that her work was an inspiration to many .”
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Namajunas recently partnered up with Polaris for the Polaris RZR Sunday Stroll content series. Namajunas, along with former UFC featherweight and current BKFC fighter Chad Mendes, boxing great Roy Jones Jr., and former NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. It is anticipated that the video will be available on the Polaris RZR YouTube page in September. According to her, a possible move to flyweight would not be a problem as she has plans to lift “a lot” starting in the fall.
After beginning her career at 14-0, including a UFC strawweight title win via second-round TKO of Carla Esparza at UFC 185, Jedrzejczyk went 2-5 in her final seven octagon appearances. The 34-year-old had five successful title defenses before the two losses to Namajunas, and also challenged for the flyweight title where she dropped a decision to current champ Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 231 in December 2018.
Jedrzejczyk’s defeat to Weili at March was widely regarded as the greatest female fight ever and the most important fight in UFC history.
Namajunas was not surprised when Jedrzejczyk declared she would be calling it a profession, given the impressive resume she had compiled throughout her career.
“I felt like she had already accomplished so much,” Namajunas said. She could have called it before, but she is such a fighter that she loves to fight.
” “Whatever makes her smile, that’s what I love to see.”
