Clash erupts here, no holds barred
In the women's mixed martial arts scene, Rose Namajunas has earned her place as a dominant force across multiple divisions for some time. However, a string of disappointing performances culminated in the loss of her strawweight title against Carla Esparza, prompting a move to the atomweight division. On March 24, at UFC on ESPN 53 (or Vegas 88), Namajunas will take on Amanda Ribas in the main event in a bid to regain dominance. Ribas, too, aims to continue her ascendancy in the sport by scoring an impressive victory over the former champion.
Rose Namajunas: A Mixed Martial Arts Veteran
Rose Namajunas, despite two consecutive losses, currently ranks 8th in the Women’s P4P (Pound-for-Pound) rankings. Her accolades include being a two-time strawweight champion, a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter reality show, and six nominations for best fight and performance of the night. Beyond her accomplishments in the cage, Namajunas boasts a brown belt in jiu-jitsu, a black belt in both children's karate and taekwondo, and experience in kickboxing.
Strengths
Namajunas' footwork, pace, and lightning-quick combinations have consistently proven to be her greatest assets. Her powerful striking base is complemented by solid takedowns and a diverse array of submissions that have aided her in overwhelming opponents at various skill levels. In the past, Namajunas demonstrated impressive control of distance and timing, but her recent performances suggest she may have lost some of that edge.
Weaknesses
Concerns regarding the erosion of Namajunas' translation protection and the quality of her back work have intensified. Previously, Namajunas favored rapid-fire doubles or triples when closing the distance, but her recent preference for single strikes raises questions about her mental focus. These issues are further highlighted by Namajunas' struggles when faced with larger opponents in a new weight class, which has some speculating whether old mental demons are resurfacing.
Current Form and Fighter Readiness
At 31 years old, Namajunas has recently endured two losses to Carla Esparza and Manon Fiorot, ending a three-win streak against Jessica Andrade and Weili Zhang. Against Esparza, who relied heavily on grappling, Namajunas displayed a lack of enthusiasm and motivation to push forward. Her relative scarcity of fights—one or fewer per year—makes it difficult to assess her current mental and physical readiness.
Amanda Ribas: A Tough Adversary
Ranked 8th in the women’s strawweight division, Amanda Ribas also boasts impressive credentials in the sport. Sporting black belts in both judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, she won gold at the IMMAF World Championships as an amateur and claimed belts in Jungle Fight and Max Fight as a professional. Although she originally began her career in the atomweight division, she now competes at 57 kg.
Strengths
As a mixed martial artist, Ribas demonstrates solid striking skills, with her off-balanced strikes often finding their mark. In grappling, she is more technical, relying on control, ground and pound, and a wide variety of submissions as both attacks and counters.
Weaknesses
Ribas' primary weakness lies in her defense, especially her neglect of solid blocking in favor of constant pressure and strong clinching. This approach has left her vulnerable on the feet, as she has already been knocked out three times.
Current Form and Fighter Readiness
At 30 years old, Ribas enters the bout with a mixed 3-3 record in her last six fights. Despite her losses against Marina Rodriguez, Katlyn Chookagian, and Maycee Barber, Ribas has managed to defeat more-than-competent opponents Paige VanZant, Virna Jandiroba, and Luana Pinheiro. Like many combatants, Ribas thrives under intense pressure and excels during multi-round fights, although she remains untested against 25 minutes of cage time.
Analysis and Chances of Victory
Both Namajunas and Ribas possess commendable physiques for a fight at UFC on ESPN 53 (or Vegas 88). Namajunas maintains a slight advantage in reach, but Ribas is slightly shorter. It is expected that Namajunas will circle her opponent and aim to catch Ribas on the counter or charge in for close-range attacks. Ribas, conversely, will seek to close the distance and engage in a grappling or clinching battle.
Observing Namajunas' recent performances, it seems there may have been a decline in her striking skills and power. Ribas, on the other hand, excels in grappling, which could present a challenge for Namajunas, given her difficulties in that department in her last bout against Esparza.
While Namajunas has a chance in the striking exchanges, she may struggle against Ribas’ ground game. At 2.40, Ribas provides an attractive betting option, considering her superior grappling and recent difficulties faced by Namajunas against opponents who emphasize grappling and clinching.
Odds for the Namajunas - Ribas Fight
According to Zenit Sportsbook, one can back their preferred fighter with the following odds: Rose Namajunas - 1.61, Amanda Ribas - 2.40.
Prediction for the Namajunas - Ribas Fight
While the possibility exists that Namajunas, in her prime, could comfortably defeat Ribas, recent performances suggest that the tables may have turned in favor of the younger Ribas. With her grappling and submission skills, Ribas has shown an ability to test even the most seasoned veterans, making it difficult for Namajunas to rediscover her form. Thus, bettors are advised to consider wagering on Ribas and the fight going past the halfway mark of 2.5 rounds, given the dynamic nature of mixed martial arts contests.
In the mixed-martial-arts world, Amanda Ribas aims to further her ascendancy in the sport by securing an impressive victory over Rose Namajunas, who is seeking to regain dominance following a string of disappointing performances. Despite Namajunas' brown belt in jiu-jitsu and black belts in children's karate, taekwondo, and kickboxing, concerns about her translation protection, back work, and recent struggles against larger opponents may hinder her chances against Ribas' grappling and submission skills.
