Former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas can have her second struggle at flyweight within the UFC 240 most important occasion on March 30. She takes on eighth-ranked Amanda Ribas.
Namajunas misplaced her flyweight debut in September dropping an unanimous choice to Manon Fiorot. Not solely has Namajunas modified her weight class, she’s minimize out caffeine, recommitted to her religion and has labored to turn out to be a greater particular person.
“I simply been working by a number of issues spiritually. I have been altering a number of issues. I have been altering a number of issues in my life and I really feel like I am at a degree proper now the place, awe, I really feel like I figured some stuff out. It simply did not go my method however it nearly gave me extra gasoline. I do know that I am 31 now. I haven’t got essentially the most time however I really feel like I am proper at that spot the place it is like bodily and mentally, I am nonetheless feeling actually good bodily. I really feel like now’s the time,” Namajunas informed The MMA Hour.
“It is actually thrilling as a result of one: it is like I achieved every thing that I wished to realize at 115 and that is like form of the final of my to-do record so far as my MMA profession. I simply need to make some noise at 125, get that belt once more. That might be tremendous cool. Wherever God leads me that is the place I will go and simply type of depart it as much as him. I do know I’ve a sure period of time and I will take advantage of it and I will do no matter I can.”
At flyweight, Namajunas does not have to chop the burden that she did to make the 115-pound weight restrict. Trying again, she did not really feel it was wholesome.
“I really felt actually good (in flyweight debut). Now I am even a bit extra strong. I had a bit extra fats on me however it wasn’t a ton or something. I used to be positively quite a bit leaner at 115 however now I really feel like I am a bit bit greater and extra strong too and I am simply extra accustomed to transferring round at this weight as effectively as a result of that is smothering factor. When you placed on that measurement you need to additionally be capable to have a bit little bit of endurance and that is what my purpose is as a result of I do really feel like despite the fact that it is extra work total preventing at a bit bit greater of a weight class however I really feel like over time I will have extra endurance as a result of these different ladies are a bit bit greater so that they’re transferring round extra weight. Now I am stepping into that stability candy spot the place now I do not need to get too massive as a result of I do not need to be reducing the identical weight I used to be at 115 as a result of it was getting type of tough,” she mentioned.
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“Now, as I sit, I can not even think about making an attempt to return down. I would actually should be ravenous and working quite a bit. It does not seem to be a wholesome factor to do.”
With the Ribas struggle on the horizon, Namajunas believes that she’s the higher fighter.
“She’s all the time bought some good power. She involves struggle. She’s going to provide it her all each second of the struggle. That is most likely the most important hazard that she poses. She’s bought some good strategies however total I simply really feel like I am higher all over the place. I do know I am higher all over the place. I simply have to take care of focus and self-discipline and simply keep on with the sport plan and get her out of there once I can.”