‘Thug Rose’ Responds To Dana White

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president, Dana White, recently suggested that the promotion would turn to Carla Esparza to face current women’s Strawweight champion, Weili Zhang, since he caught wind that Rose Namajunas was interested in the title fight at the moment.

According to the outspoken head honcho, it seems “Thug Rose” simply can’t handle the pressure that comes with being a UFC champion.

Now, Namajunas is firing back at the notion, saying that is the furthest thing from the truth. Speaking during a video stream on her YouTube channel, Rose says all of her tribal and tribulations have only made her stronger, not weaker.

“Maybe there’s a misconception out there that I’m weak minded or whatever or, ‘I can’t handle the pressures of being champion,’ or whatever the (expletive) people say. That’s not true,” Namajunas said (transcribed by MMA Junkie.).

“That’s what I live for. I’m the pressure cooker. What better reason to remind me why I fight than (my grandfather) passing away. I am super ready for all of that, because that’s what I am fighting for.”

Namajunas hasn’t competed since edging out fellow former division champion, Jessica Andrade, this past summer on “Fight Island.” The win brought her to 4-1 in their last five, putting her in the driver’s seat when it comes to the shot at the division strap.

Zhang, meanwhile, hasn’t tasted defeat in six years reeling off 21 wins in a row with her lone defeat coming in her pro debut. With the promotion starting to fill out its slate of fights for the first quarter of 2021, don’t be too surprised if the promotion locks this title fight down in the coming weeks.

Assuming White and Namajunas can get on the same page, that is.