The world {of professional} MMA is extremely aggressive, particularly in high promotions like UFC, and oftentimes, fighters can’t keep away from clashing with their very own skilled allies. UFC Atlanta is about to deliver out one thing related with Rose Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick, because the struggle has been build up quietly for fairly a while.
Rose Namajunas Didn’t Suppose Twice Earlier than Accepting the Miranda Maverick Battle
Namajunas shared that her upcoming struggle with Maverick at UFC Battle Night time: Usman vs. Buckley didn’t come as a shock. The previous strawweight champion believes that this struggle has been coming for nearly a yr, just below completely different circumstances.
Throughout an interview with MMA Combating at UFC Battle Night time: Usman vs Buckley presser, “Thug” was requested whether or not she had any “second ideas” earlier than accepting the struggle towards her former coaching accomplice, to which she mentioned, “I imply, no second ideas or something, simply it’s one thing that I wasn’t like tremendous stunned by.”
Namajunas recalled the time when she was scheduled to struggle Maycee Barber, however Barber pulled out. Again then, Maverick was fascinated with stepping in, despite the fact that she was already booked towards Tracy Cortez. That didn’t occur, clearly, however that transfer caught with Namajunas.
“Once I was matched as much as struggle Maycee [Barber] and she or he had pulled out final yr, I imagine it was about final yr. She, Miranda, was one of many first folks to sort of throw her title within the hat to leap at that chance and she or he was matched as much as struggle Tracy [Cortez] on the time,” Namajunas defined. “So she was sort of upset that Tracy acquired that chance over her. And we have been coaching collectively for that struggle, primarily identical to sparring, not like all the opposite stuff.”
“However so yeah, every time that occurred, I sort of at all times had at the back of my thoughts that she would need this chance, and so when it got here up, I wasn’t too stunned however yeah, it’s what it’s,” she added.
As a substitute of being full-time coaching companions, “Thug” mentioned that she used to only spar together with her often. So the fighters didn’t get too deep into one another’s types, and their familiarity won’t be as sturdy because it often is between longtime coaching companions.
When requested whether or not she takes Maverick’s pursuit of the struggle personally, Namajunas made it clear she understands it’s all a part of the sport and nothing private. “I imply, I do know that that is the struggle enterprise, you understand, she needs what I’ve, she needs my spot and I acquired to only present her that she has to search for a distinct spot,” she mentioned.
Rose Namajunas says there have been “no second ideas” about accepting a struggle towards former sparring accomplice Miranda Maverick at #UFCAtlanta:
“That is the struggle enterprise. She needs what I’ve, and she or he needs my spot. I’ve acquired to point out her she has to search for a distinct spot.” pic.twitter.com/N6DEy1X4eK
— MMA Combating (@MMAFighting) June 11, 2025
“Thug” is at the moment ranked #7 within the ladies’s flyweight division, and Maverick stands at #11. Though preventing a higher-ranked opponent would have been extra useful for Namajunas, she feels Maverick is extra expert than her rating reveals, which makes the matchup an thrilling problem for her as a fighter.
