5 blockbuster fights to book in the UFC women's strawweight division

#2. Rose Namajunas vs. Marina Rodriguez

Marina Rodriguez is more than likely one marquee win away from a shot at the title. In many ways, the Brazilian contender is a dark horse at 115 pounds and has largely worked in the shadows of the division's biggest stars.

Rodriguez boasts an excellent professional record of 16-1-2, with her lone career loss coming against Carla Esparza, the reigning strawweight queen. The loss to Esparza was a narrow one, with both fighters having a strong case for deserving the judges' nod. In the end, the current champion came away with a split decision win.

Since the razor-thin loss to Esparza, Rodriguez has put together a four-fight win streak, beating the likes of Amanda Ribas, Michelle Waterson, Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan. Now comfortably placed inside the top five at 115 pounds, she needs a big name on her résumé to truly stake her claim for a shot at gold.

Rose Namajunas is arguably the biggest name in the division. The former two-time UFC strawweight champion has a massive following, thanks to her unique personality, killer instinct, and of course, her track record comprising some of the most jaw-dropping moments in the history of the division.

A win over Rose Namajunas would be just the sort of statement-making result Marina Rodriguez needs in order to draw the attention of the masses. Moreover, it's a fantastic fan-friendly matchup between two accurate and efficient strikers.

For Namajunas, this would be a must-win fight. 'Thug' Rose already has two losses to the reigning champion and is likely desperate to return to title contention. Additionally, the fact that she felt she deserved to come away with the win in her rematch with Carla Esparza could have lit a fire under her.

Namajunas undoubtedly has the skills to return with a vengeance and become a three-time UFC champion.

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#1. Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili – UFC women's strawweight championship bout

Following one of the weirdest title fights in UFC history, Carla Esparza was awarded a split decision victory in the co-main event of UFC 274. She now has a target on her back, and there's only one fight to make atop the 115-pound division – Esparza vs. Zhang Weili.

Weili solidified her claim to a title shot with a stunning performance against fellow former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk at the recently concluded UFC 275 pay-per-view. The Chinese fighter is undoubtedly next in line for a championship opportunity, especially considering the nature of her knockout victory.

Zhang Weili will certainly like her chances against Carla Esparza, considering her striking prowess in combination with her new and improved wrestling. Nevertheless, Esparza has grown in confidence over the course of her current six-fight win streak, making this matchup quite intriguing.

Carla Esparza (left) and Zhang Weili (right) [Images via @carlaesparza1 and @zhangweilimma on Instagram]