Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas has been out of action since May, when she lost her title to Jessica Andrade by knockout via a devastating slam. In the immediate aftermath, the 27-year-old Namajunas expressed doubt about fighting ever again. But six months later, she’s talking about a return to the cage and says the UFC has even offered her a fight that she’s considering. So what makes sense for “Thug” Rose’s return? Farah Hannoun, Nolan King and Mike Bohn sound off in this edition of “Triple Take.”
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Farah Hannoun: Fight Tatiana Suarez
Now that Rose Namajunas is rejuvenated, it shouldn’t take long for her to climb back to the top, considering her accolades in the division. But since she didn’t determine an exact date for a return, a No. 1 contender fight with Tatiana Suarez to determine the next strawweight title challenger should be next.
Suarez also has been sidelined as she recovers from an injury, but is on the cusp of title contention. With champion Zhang Weili likely to face former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk next, a fight between Namajunas and Suarez to determine who’s next would work out well. Despite losing her last fight, Namajunas was in the middle of a striking masterclass against Jessica Andrade before a pivotal mistake cost her.
While an argument can be made for both Namajunas and Suarez to get the next title shot, neither has given a date for a return, but their timelines could coincide. A very worthy challenger would emerge from such a high-caliber fight, which is why it makes so much sense.
Next page – Nolan King: Rematch Jessica Andrade
Triple Take: What makes sense for Rose Namajunas' UFC return fight?