bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Nicolas Atkin

Rose Namajunas still wants to fight Zhang Weili for the UFC strawweight title – despite Dana White’s assertions to the contrary.
UFC president White hinted in an interview with BT Sport he is moving on from the American “Thug” (10-4) and lining up her fellow former champ Carla Esparza (18-6) as Zhang’s next challenger.
“What I’m hearing is Rose does not want a title shot. Rose does not want to fight for a title,” White said, adding that he felt Namajunas did not like the pressure of being a champion.
“So we’ll see how that all plays out. If you look at the rankings and how it plays out, it would play out Weili versus Carla Esparza.”


Namajunas’ coach and fiancé Pat Barry released a statement, however, denying White’s claims.
“That is absolutely not true – we absolutely want the title fight,” Barry said. “Who would turn down a title fight? We just don’t want to air this out publicly. If there was some confusion, they can call us to clear it up.”
UFC: Ferguson explains how he didn’t tap to Oliveira armbar
Esparza defeated Namajunas in the finals of season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter to become the UFC’s inaugural strawweight champ. But “The Cookie Monster” lost the belt to Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4) in her first title defence.
Zhang (21-1) has not fought since a fight of the year contender against Jedrzejczyk, where she won a five-round split decision at UFC 248 in March.


MMA fighter with Hong Kong roots wants to fight at ‘home’, make film with Jackie Chan

Ex-painter is first China woman competitor in world slap contest, says helps to confront fears

ONE Championship: Christian Lee vows to finish off Alibeg Rasulov in Tokyo rematch

UFC signs 4-year deal to host 3 fights in Macau after ‘resounding success’ of 2024 event

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Rose Namajunas coach hits back at Dana White claim – ‘absolutely not true, we want title fight’

Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas after her fight with Jessica Andrade at UFC 251 at Fight Island, Abu Dhabi in July. Photo: Instagram/Rose Namajunas

UFC: Tony Ferguson explains how he didn’t tap after Charles Oliveira bent his arm backwards

Tony Ferguson shows off his arm while receiving cupping therapy treatment after his UFC 256 defeat by Charles Oliveira. Photo: Instagram

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 12: (R-L) Tony Ferguson kicks Charles Oliveira of Brazil in their lightweight bout during the UFC 256 event at UFC APEX on December 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC 256: Dana White lauds ‘greatest fight in flyweight history’ as Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno battle to draw

Brandon Moreno punches Deiveson Figueiredo in their flyweight championship bout during UFC 256. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 12: (R-L) Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil punches Brandon Moreno of Mexico in their flyweight championship bout during the UFC 256 event at UFC APEX on December 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC 256: Charles Oliveira’s utter domination of Tony Ferguson brings title shot one step closer

Charles Oliveira punches Tony Ferguson in their lightweight bout during UFC 256. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 12:  (R-L) Tony Ferguson kicks Charles Oliveira of Brazil in their lightweight bout during the UFC 256 event at UFC APEX on December 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC 256: Rafael Fiziev gets first-round KO of Renato Moicano as Vegas pays dividends

Rafael Fiziev punches Renato Moicano in their lightweight bout during UFC 256. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 12:  (L-R) Renato Moicano of Brazil punches Rafael Fiziev of Kyrgyzstan in their lightweight bout during the UFC 256 event at UFC APEX on December 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


UFC president White says he is ‘hearing’ former champ doesn’t want title shot vs Zhang Weili
‘If there was some confusion, they can call us to clear it up,’ responds Namajunas’ coach and fiancé Pat Barry



UFC boss Dana White ‘hearing’ Rose Namajunas doesn’t want title shot vs Zhang Weili but former champ’s fiancé Pat Barry says ‘if there was some confusion, they can call us’.


Dana White