UFC 261: Rose Namajunas says ‘better dead than red’ ahead of title fight vs China’s Zhang Weili

‘I don’t think it’s any coincidence that Weili is red, that’s what she represents,’ says former strawweight champ Namajunas

‘It’s nothing personal against her, but that’s a huge motivating factor of why I fight. I fight for freedom ... I’ve got Lithuanian blood and the American dream’

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Zhang Weili (left) will face Rose Namajunas (right) at UFC 261. Photo: AP and Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Published: 1:08pm, 11 Apr 2021Updated: 1:23pm, 11 Apr 2021

Rose Namajunas has stoked her rivalry with Zhang Weili ahead of their UFC 261 title fight, saying “better dead than red”.

The words invoked a popular Cold War slogan in the US, which claimed the prospect of nuclear war with the USSR was preferable to that of a communist society.

Lithuanian-American Namajunas (10-4) challenges Zhang (21-1) on April 24 in Jacksonville, Florida, and the build-up has been mostly friendly between the two Sucker Punch Entertainment stablemates – Zhang even said she wants to “bond” with the former champ after she beats her.

“You know the animosity and things like that, those can be very motivating factors in short moments,” the 28-year-old Namajunas said in an interview with Lithuanian national public broadcaster LRT this week.

Rose Namajunas punches Jessica Andrade in their strawweight fight at UFC 251. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

“But in all actuality going into the fights [vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade], maybe there was certain rivalries and things like that but I always kept myself in control, I never really hated the person.

“And I don’t hate Weili or anything like that. There’s nothing ... you know ... but I do feel as though I have a lot to fight for in this fight and what she represents.

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