Rose Namajunas out of UFC 249 rematch with Jessica Andrade
Rose Namajunas won’t run it back with Jessica Andrade at UFC 249, after all.
Namajunas (8-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is out of the rematch with fellow former strawweight champion Andrade (20-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) on April 18. The fight was expected to co-headline the April 18 card, which will reportedly take place at Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, Calif.
MMA Junkie confirmed Namajunas’ withdrawal with a person close to the situation following an initial report from Brazilian news outlet Combate. The person requested anonymity because the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.
The reason behind Namajunas’ removal from the card is unclear. It’s also not known if a replacement opponent will be found for Andrade.
Andrade vs. Namajunas was supposed to be the second encounter between the pair after Andrade took the UFC’s 115-pound title from Namajunas by slam knockout last May at UFC 237.
The latest UFC 249 lineup now includes:
- Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje – for interim lightweight title
- Jessica Andrade vs. opponent TBA
- Yorgan De Castro vs. Greg Hardy
- Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
- Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens
- Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza
- Alexander Hernandez vs. Omar Morales
- Ray Borg vs. Marlon Vera
- Michael Johnson vs. Khama Worthy
- Sijara Eubanks vs. Sarah Moras
- Sam Alvey vs. Ryan Spann