UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose “Thug Rose” Namajunas will make her first title defense against former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the UFC 223 co-main event.
Rose Namajunas (7-3) defeated Jedrzejczyk with ease in the first round for the UFC women’s strawweight title at UFC 217. Thug Rose outstruck the former Muay Thai champion on the feet, dropping her twice in the first round. Namajunas was a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter 20 in 2014, where the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion was crowned. Rose was submitted by Carla Esparza at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale.
Prior to UFC 217, Jedrzejczyk (14-1) was only one win away from tying Ronda Rousey’s record for six title defenses in the UFC’s women divisions. The Polish fighter blamed her upset loss to Namajunasa on a bad weight cut, claiming she cut 15 pounds in 14 hours prior to their bout.
