Rose Namajunas Disputes Notion That She’s ‘Too Small’ for Flyweight

Rose Namajunas isn’t listening to the naysayers – and that includes UFC Fight Night 226 opponent Manon Fiorot.

The former strawweight champion revealed during a video on social media that she plans on remaining at 125 pounds following a unanimous decision loss to Fiorot in the UFC Fight Night 226 co-main event this past Saturday.

“I’m definitely going to stay [at flyweight],” Namajunas said. “I want to put a little more muscle on. I don’t want to go back down [to strawweight], definitely not. I felt so much better not cutting that weight.

“I already did conquer 115 and to go and do that again, that just seems harder than conquering 125 because of that freaking weight cut. Seriously. Draining your body like that is not good. Your kidneys and your brain and all that stuff. Plus I have a little more time. I’m going to definitely be lifting some freaking weights more. I’ve already been lifting a lot and I got a lot stronger but next time will be even more.”

Namajunas was competitive throughout the contest, despite dislocating her finger in the opening stanza (It was initially feared that she suffered a fracture). “Thug” Rose took issue with Fiorot’s post-fight claim that she is too small for the weight class.

“I might have had some moments of freaking out because I couldn’t grip my fingers together or I couldn’t make a fist but definitely not too small,” Namajunas said. “If anything, why were you running away from [somebody] too small? Why did you originally call me out if I’m too small? I have no problems if she thinks she won. Great. Respect. But don’t say I’m too small because that’s not the case at all.”