Former UFC strawweight champion and heavyweight star set to join competing MMA league

After losing her strawweight title against Carla Esparza in May earlier this year, Rose Namajunas is set to return to the combat sports scene with a grappling match against fellow UFC fighter Gillian Robertson at Fury Pro Grappling 6 on December 30.

She will be joined by her partner Pat Barry, who will be putting his grappling and submission skills to the test against Jonathan Pellet. Barry is also a former heavyweight veteran and a part of Namajunas' coaching staff.

Rose Namajunas, the former two-time strawweight champion, faces a difficult test ahead of her. After her baffling five-round bout against Esparza at UFC 274, the American chose to take a hiatus from the Octagon and will now face an opponent who boasts the most submission wins in UFC women's history.

Robertson last defeated Mariya Agapova at UFC Vegas 60 in September via second-round submission. Pat Barry, on the other hand, will be making his competitive return to combat sports after May 2014. Barry left the promotion in 2013 after losing five of his last seven bouts.

'Thug Rose' will be headlining the card, which takes place at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena and airs live on the UFC Fight Pass. She is expected to compete in a 135-pound no-gi superfight.

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No.1-ranked UFC flyweight names Rose Namajunas as potential future opponent

Manon Fiorot wants to be the one to welcome Rose Namajunas to the flyweight division if the American chooses to move up the weight class and compete at 125 lbs.

Since her debut loss in 2018, Fiorot has remained undefeated in MMA and has won each of her five bouts in the promotion. On her last octagon appearance, 'The Beast' defeated Katlyn Chookagian by unanimous decision and rightfully earned the #1 spot in the flyweight division.

While the French fighter is currently recovering from knee surgery, it seems she is already eager to plan her return to the octagon as soon as possible.

In an interview with Farrah Hannoun of MMA Junkie, the Frenchwoman stated:

"Waiting for Valentina [Shevchenko] is not an option for me because I really want to fight in August... I heard two weeks ago that Rose wants to move up in the flyweight division. I'm the number one contender, if she come [to my division], she has to fight me.

Fiorot is currently riding a 10-fight win streak in MMA and has emerged as a possible contender for Valentina Shevchenko's championship title. However, the timing of Fiorot’s recovery paired with Shevchenko’s desire to fight in the first quarter of 2023 rules out that option as the next divisional title pairing.