5 reasons why Rose Namajunas is the greatest strawweight of all time

#2. Rose Namajunas' striking has caught up with her grappling

Known primarily as a grappler earlier in her career, Rose Namajunas' overall skillset has rounded out nicely under the threat of UFC competition. While the power in her hands and feet would lead one to believe she is a striker, her credentials and fighting statistics reflect a well-rounded athlete.

Another reason why Rose Namajunas is the greatest strawweight of all time is her ability to blend mixed martial arts inside the octagon. It's easy to assume she is a natural striker judging by the fluidity of her movement during fights. However, the two-time strawweight champion is well-versed on the ground and that is where her MMA foundation first solidified.

With eight of her eleven MMA victories coming by submission, the numbers grossly underestimate her standup ability. Rose Namajunas owns an average of more than four strikes per minute in any contest. Conversely, the two-time champion absorbs roughly an equal amount of punishment she gives out, with a clip of 3.88 strikes absorbed per fifteen minutes (stats courtesy of ESPN).

Known for her mobility, Rose Namajunas is a puzzling yet effective striker. The champion enjoys implementing a variety of angles and stance switches. 'Thug' likes to utilize a sharp jab and highkicks. With forward movement, those two weapons are some of her most powerful. Rose Namajunas' offensive synergy is a prerequisite to being considered in GOAT conversations.

#1. Rose Namajunas is the queen of rematches

When one looks back at the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, rematches are almost always inherently cemented into the fabric of discussion. Not once, not twice, but three times has Rose Namajunas found success in a rematch. In order to be considered the best strawweight in the world, adjustments against high caliber opponents often make the difference between winning or losing.

Given the dominance of former champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk, it was a foregone conclusion that 'Thug' would have to put her belt on the line in an instant rematch against the Pole. Less than a year later, the two met for the championship, but this time Jędrzejczyk was confident her chin would hold up to the power of Namajunas.

Rose Namajunas scoring a knockdown against Jędrzejczyk

While Jędrzejczyk certainly gave Namajunas a competitive fight, she lost a unanimous decision. Namajunas would deliver in a rematch against Adrade too. The fight was a number one contender fight, and the winner would likely face Zhang Weili for the belt. After outpointing the Brazilian, Rose Namajunas expanded her record to 2-0 in UFC rematches.

At UFC 268, Rose Namajunas cemented her claim as the greatest strawweight of all-time. The 29-year-old was unable to capture lightning in a bottle like in her first bout against 'Magnum'. However, Rose Namajunas showed up at Madison Square Garden in New York and closed the chapter with China's Weili Zhang for good.

Rose Namajunas securing a title defense

When one discusses who truly is the greatest strawweight of all-time, it will be nearly impossible not to mention Rose Namajunas. The strawweight champion has come out of every rematch with her hand raised. 'Thug' has amassed title defenses during two separate reigns and seemingly still has plenty of work left to prove she is the GOAT at 115-pounds.

Do you believe Rose Namajunas is the greatest strawweight of all-time?