When Rose
Namajunas earned a split-decision triumph against Jessica
Andrade in their rematch at UFC 251, it appeared that she had
solidified her spot as the No. 1 contender at 115 pounds.
However, it’s possible that “Thug” Rose won’t have a date in the
Octagon with reigning strawweight champion Weili Zhang
anytime soon. According to UFC president Dana White, Namajunas has
balked at squaring off with Zhang next.
“What I’m hearing is Rose does not want a title shot. Rose does not
want to fight for a title,” White told BT Sport.
In the past, Namajunas has openly contemplated retirement,
particularly after relinquishing the 115-pound belt to Andrade in a
slam knockout loss at UFC 237. Ultimately, the Louisiana native
reconsidered and returned to vanquish Andrade in their rematch this
past July. Still, Namajunas has been honest about the toll being a
UFC champion took on her mentally, even as she prepared to return
to the Octagon.
“I made it into everything I didn’t want it to be,” Namajunas
said in November 2019. “I didn’t want the belt to define me,
and all I did was make it define me. That was all that was on my
mind every day. Even though it was not even in my own house. It
just consumed my every thought. It turned into a shackle and chain
rather than just loving fighting.
“Do I want to be the best? Of course. But I don’t need a belt to
tell me that I’m the best. I already know. It was like, weird. It
was all of my fears and all of the things I didn’t want to happen
ended up happening by just fearing it so much.”
And now it appears that she might be bypassed for a title shot
because of similar feelings.
“I don’t think she did [like the pressure of being champion],”
White said. “We’ll see how that all plays out. If you look at the
rankings and how it plays out, it would play out Weili vs. Carla
Esparza.”
Meanwhile, Namajunas’ fiance and coach, Pat Barry,
denied that the fighter had turned down a title shot against Zhang,
which could mean that White’s remarks are a public negotiating
ploy.
“That is absolutely not true. We absolutely want the title fight,”
Barry told ESPN.
“Who would turn down a title fight? We just don’t want to air this
out publicly. If there was some confusion they can call us to clear
it up.”