Rose Namajunas isn’t too small for flyweight however preventing with one hand positively handicapped her debut in opposition to Manon Fiorot at UFC Paris.
Simply days faraway from the loss in her 125-pound debut, the ex-UFC strawweight champion addressed her efficiency in addition to criticism she acquired from Fiorot afterwards. The three-round battle, which in the end went to Fiorot by determination, didn’t discourage Namajunas from pursuing a future at flyweight.
If something, Namajunas discovered much more motivation, particularly after dislocating her pinky finger within the first spherical that left her unable to grip or make a fist.
“If I might return in time, as soon as it occurred I initially thought to myself ‘I’ve seen this within the films, I’m going to attempt to pull it myself’ however then I simply didn’t try this,” Namajunas stated throughout an Instagram dwell session. “As a result of that’s a little bit scary.
“I’m guessing it takes a few month or a little bit longer, at the very least a month to recuperate from. It feels prefer it’s going to heal quick however I don’t wish to leap the gun.”
Namajunas revealed an preliminary x-ray didn’t present any fractures however reasonably only a dislocated finger, which brought on her issues for the rest of the battle.
Regardless of going through that adversity, Namajunas fought arduous for all quarter-hour and made it a tricky name for the judges even when she did undergo a unanimous determination loss.
Afterwards, Fiorot acknowledged that it was “unimaginable” for Namajunas to take her down whereas including that “Thug Rose” ought to most likely return to 115 kilos as a result of “the flyweights are too sturdy for her.” That remark apparently kicked a hornet’s nest, particularly when Namajunas addressed what’s subsequent in her profession.
“Positively rematch involves thoughts or I’ll get her finally as a result of I virtually beat her with one hand,” Namajunas stated. “That’s my largest gripe, I didn’t take heed to nothing. I gave Manon respect. I used to be the one which walked as much as her, shook her hand, [said] good job, good battle, blah, blah, blah. When she was sitting on the stool, I used to be standing up, able to go two extra rounds with one hand. Then I didn’t take heed to the remainder of her interview, all the pieces she stated phrase for phrase however I did see a headline she says I’m too small and I didn’t win a spherical.
“Effectively, I disagree with each of these issues. I believe I dropped your ass, so I’m positively not too small. I might need had some moments of freaking out as a result of I couldn’t grip my fingers collectively or I couldn’t make a fist however positively not too small. If something, why have been you operating away from [somebody] too small? Why did you initially name me out if I’m too small? I’ve no issues if she thinks she gained. Nice. Respect. However don’t say I’m too small as a result of that’s not the case in any respect.”
Namajunas emphatically shut down any potential return to strawweight whereas noting that she’s already a two-time UFC champion. Add to that, Namajunas insisted that the load minimize was simply too arduous to fathom a return to 115 kilos and she or he’s devoted to including extra measurement and muscle earlier than her subsequent battle at flyweight.
“I’m positively going to remain [at flyweight],” Namajunas stated. “I wish to put a little bit extra muscle on. I don’t wish to return down [to strawweight], positively not. I felt so significantly better not reducing that weight.
“I already did conquer 115 and to go and try this once more, that simply appears tougher than conquering 125 due to that freaking weight minimize. Severely. Draining your physique like that’s not good. Your kidneys and your mind and all that stuff. Plus I’ve a little bit extra time. I’m going to positively be lifting some freaking weights extra. I’ve already been lifting rather a lot and I bought rather a lot stronger however subsequent time shall be much more.”
Namajunas additionally shut down issues over her teaching workers when addressing Trevor Wittman’s absence at UFC Paris.
It seems, Namajunas stayed in touch with Wittman earlier than and after her battle however as a consequence of timing they simply didn’t get to work collectively a lot in preparation for the showdown with Fiorot. Namajunas additionally revealed that she constructed a health club in her storage at dwelling, which served as her major spot to coach within the weeks and days main as much as the battle.
“Trevor not being there, I wish to handle however I don’t need individuals making assumptions that Pat [Barry] has something to do with it,” Namajunas stated. “It was sort of stuff associated to me and [Justin] Gaethje and his ‘BMF’ title camp he had happening. It’s truthfully no person’s enterprise.
“In fact as a result of all people wish to chin on Pat and make assumptions. As a result of that’s the best way issues are it doesn’t matter what. Individuals are simply going to imagine he’s the explanation [Trevor] isn’t in my nook. It has nothing to do with Pat. It has all the pieces to do with me and Gaethje and him having a battle with the ‘BMF’ and all that stuff and I didn’t wish to intrude and I stayed again.”
Namajunas didn’t set a timeline for her return to motion nevertheless it doesn’t seem that she’s going to sit idle for too lengthy with the sting of two straight losses nonetheless so recent.
The loss wasn’t ultimate however Namajunas nonetheless discovered causes to be happy with her efficiency whereas primarily competing with one hand for almost all of her battle in opposition to one of many high ranked flyweights within the sport.
“I don’t know why all people thinks I’m too small,” Namajunas stated. “As a result of our attain was the identical. I virtually took her down. I had her posting out on fours on the bottom and I couldn’t grip my fingers collectively!
“Was she a little bit bit larger than me? Sure. Was she too massive for me? F*** no.”
