Rose Namajunas took her first step in a quest to reach the top of the flyweight division, beating rival Amanda Ribas by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.
Namajunas (12-6), a two-time UFC champion at strawweight, ended a two-bout losing streak, as she got the judges to score in her favor.
“Man, it’s good to get your hand raised,” said Namajunas, who came in ranked No. 9 in ESPN’s flyweight rankings.
Ribas (13-5), who is ranked ninth at strawweight, was able to score four takedowns, but she ended up in the bottom position on all but one occasion.
While the fight was still going on, Namajunas was far more accurate, landing at just under 50%. Namajunas could not show the power she had shown in strawweight.
“I know I still got things to work on,” Namajunas said. “She did really good, but I was able to just stay calm in there.”
When asked who she wanted to fight next, Namajunas mentioned the two flyweights who meet in next weekend’s UFC main event, Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield, as well as Maycee Barber.
In other fight news, Igor Severino’s UFC career lasted barely a round and a half on Saturday night before he was disqualified for biting his opponent then he was released from the promotion.
The 20-year-old Brazilian fighter, making his Octagon debut at a UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas, was doing okay against countryman Andre Lima when, with the fighters standing in a clinch against the cage midway through Round 2, Lima suddenly flinched and lifted his left arm for referee Chris Tognoni to see.
The ref immediately stopped the action and brought in a Nevada State Athletic Commission doctor who said it was a bite mark. Dana White sent Igor on his way after the match.
