Rose Namajunas Injured in Flyweight Debut Loss to Manon Fiorot
Rose Namajunas, the former two-time strawweight champion, faced a challenging flyweight debut at UFC Paris, marked by a unanimous decision loss to the rising contender Manon Fiorot. Following the fight, it was revealed that Namajunas had suffered a significant injury during the bout.
Her manager, Brian Butler of SuckerPunch Entertainment, confirmed on various social media platforms that Namajunas had broken her hand early in the first round of the fight. He even shared an image of a splint on his Instagram story. Coach Pat Barry also shared a photo of the injury, illustrating its severity, but added that Namajunas remained in good spirits despite the setback.
Rose Namajunas injured her hand in the first round against Manon Fiorot at #UFCParis
(via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/M3P8xQlTrT
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) September 3, 2023
Rose is in good spirits. Broke her right hand early in the first round and couldn’t fully execute because of it.
— Brian Butler-Au (@BrianButler_Au) September 3, 2023
Despite the injury, Namajunas displayed remarkable resilience throughout the contest, even winning the third round on two judges’ scorecards. Her performance was commendable, given the adversity she faced due to the broken hand.
Namajunas had contemplated a move to the flyweight division following her title loss to Carla Esparza at UFC 274 in May 2022. However, she had expressed her intention to focus on strength training and grappling matches before making the transition. With the flyweight debut resulting in a loss and the hand injury adding to the challenges, Namajunas faces uncertainty about her future in the new weight class.
It remains to be seen whether Namajunas will persist in the flyweight division or consider returning to strawweight, where she has previously held the championship twice. Notably, she holds two victories over the current strawweight champion, Zhang Weili, making her a strong contender in that weight class.
“Rose is in good spirits. Broke her right hand early in the first round and couldn’t fully execute because of it.”
Rose Namajunas’ determination and ability to persevere through adversity are evident in her competitive performance despite the injury. Her decision about her future weight class will likely be influenced by her recovery and the opportunities that arise in both the flyweight and strawweight divisions.
