UFC Pushing For ‘Thug Rose’ Apex Fight In March

Namajunas will stay at flyweight for her next fight, which could take place without a crowd at the UFC’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A long-rumored scrap between Rose Namajunas and Amanda Ribas now has a date, location, and weight class locked in.

The former two-time strawweight champ Namajunas will remain at flyweight for this next battle, which will reportedly take place on March 23rd at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brazilian outlet Combate confirmed the UFC’s plans for Rose’s return, and now we’re just waiting on confirmation that contracts are signed.

“She’s going to stay at flyweight,” Namajunas’ manager Brett Butler told MMA Junkie Radio on Wednesday, January 10th. “You’ll see her first half of this year.”

If there’s any sticking point to a deal being made, we hope it’s with the decision to have Namajunas vs. Ribas headline a UFC APEX card. Even though the pandemic is nothing but an afterthought these days, the UFC continues to hold regular events at their small facility in Vegas. They have several lined up for March and April, and someone needs to fight in those main events.

But does it really have to be a fan favorite like Rose Namajunas? A fighter whose combat sports career could be over after any fight? Are we really talking about having her fight in the sterile APEX with a no one but a handful of rich bozos and B-rate influencers in attendance?

That’d be a real shame. Put Namajunas in front of a real crowd, UFC.