Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes might not be the only women’s super-fight in store for UFC fans.
The UFC 316 pay-per-view set up a huge matchup at 135 pounds, with Nunes and Harrison facing off moments after the latter submitted Julianna Pena to win the title.
But an even bigger fight could be in store a weight class lower, as talk over Valentina Shevchenko’s next flyweight championship defense continues.
After ‘Bullet’ got past Manon Fiorot at UFC 315 in May, she was quickly called out by the queen from below, strawweight titleholder Zhang Weili.
Having cemented herself as the dominant force at 115 pounds, the Chinese star is after the opportunity to join Nunes as only the second two-division female champ in UFC history.
Namajunas, though, doesn’t rate her former rival’s chances too highly.
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Rose Namajunas predicts Valentina Shevchenko to beat Zhang Weili in potential super-fight
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie ahead of her return to action in Atlanta, former two-time strawweight champ Rose Namajunas gave her take on the Shevchenko vs. Zhang talk.
‘Thug Rose’ is well aware of the current 115-pound queen’s talents, having shared the cage with her twice. Namajunas knocked Zhang out with a head kick first time around before coming out on the right side of a split decision in the rematch.
With that in mind, the flyweight contender is well placed to assess Zhang’s chances in the heavier division. And though she won’t entirely rule ‘Magnum’ out, Namajunas’ money would be on Shevchenko reigning supreme.
“I would lean more towards Valentina,” Namajunas said.
“I do think Weili would have a chance. I think she’s quick enough and in her last fight she showed a lot of elevation to her game.
“I think she would do pretty well,” Namajunas added. “I just think Valentina is the better martial artist. At the end of the day, that’s just kind of who I would pick.
“But, I mean, she (Zhang) has a chance, you know?”
Rose Namajunas has her own sights set on Valentina Shevchenko
Zhang is far from the only woman looking to secure the next spot opposite Shevchenko inside the Octagon.
While the charging Natalia Silva put herself in a strong position by defeating former champion Alexa Grasso, Namajunas is planning to make a statement in her next fight.
‘Thug Rose’ is set to co-headline Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Atlanta, setting the stage for Kamaru Usman’s main event against Joaquin Buckley.
Namajunas will share the cage with one of her past training partners, Miranda Maverick.
Though she’s fighting a lower-ranked opponent, the strawweight legend isn’t ruling out the possibility that a strong result could set up her first shot at flyweight title glory.