Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Strawweight contenders Rose
Namajunas and Karolina Kowalkiewicz
will look to earn a 115-pound title shot
this Saturday (July 30, 2016) at UFC 201
inside Philips Arena in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Since losing her initial title bid in her
Octagon debut, Namajunas has been
on fire. She’s won her last three fights
— including a pair of finishes — and
will look to take her final step in
earning a title shot. Meanwhile,
Kowalkiewicz has only been a UFC
fighter for about seven months now,
but she’s quickly made a strong
impression. Undefeated as a
professional, a successful jump in
competition against "Thug Rose" will
slingshot the Polish fighter into the
title picture.
Let’s take a look at the keys to victory
for both women:
Rose Namajunas
Record : 5-2
Key Wins: Tecia Torres (UFC on FOX 19)
, Paige VanZant (UFC Fight Night 80),
Randa Markos (TUF 20*), Angela Hill
(UFC 192)
Key Losses: Carla Esparze (TUF 20
Finale), Tecia Torres (Invicta FC 4)
Keys to Victory: Though she's one of
the youngest fighters in her division,
Namajunas' karate background and
submission acumen make her rather
well-rounded. In five fights, she's
finished all but one of her foes by
submission.
In this bout, Namajunas will have to
continue to blend her skills to earn the
victory. That's a balance that she's
managed well in her last three fights,
which is why she's won each of those
match ups.
While on the feet, Namajunas needs to
keep her composure and work from
the outside while setting up the
takedown. Kowalkiewicz does a very
nice job of countering her opponent's
as they rush in and dive for takedown
attempts, so it's important that "Thug
Rose" stay tight but offensive.
Additionally, Namajunas needs to
match her opponent's volume.
Kowalkiewicz throws at a high pace
and can do so for three rounds, so
Namajunas cannot allow herself to fall
behind on points. If that happens,
getting more desperate with her
combinations and takedowns will only
leave her more vulnerable.
VS.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Record : 9-0
Key Wins: Randa Markos (UFC on FOX
17), Heather Jo Clark (UFC Fight Night
87), Mizuki Inoue (Invicta FC 9)
Key Losses: None
Keys to Victory: Kowalkiewicz is a high-
volume Muay Thai striker with some
solid takedown defense. Though she's
not particularly well-known,
Kowalkiewicz does have the skill set
necessary to trouble Namajunas.
For Kowalkiewicz, the goal should be
maintain her range and out-work
Namajunas. Though "Thug Rose" can
kick and grapple well, her transitions
between those two distances aren't
always the smoothest.
With that in mind, Kowalkiewicz should
look to at least match Namajunas'
distance output. On occasion, she can
look to move into the boxing range —
where she likely holds an advantage
— and score with some crisp punches.
If she's able to accomplish those goals,
the pressure will be on Namajunas to
push forward and land a takedown.
Thus far, Kowalkiewicz has proven to
be very effective at both defending the
shot and punishing her foe for the
attempt.
If Kowalkiewicz is able to play her
game and force Namajunas out of her
comfort zone, we could very well be in
for an upset.
Bottom Line: It’s a scrap between two
members of the Top 5 -- the winner
should receive a title shot.
Namajunas has proven repeatedly that
she’s a serious force despite her
inexperience. In all honesty, it’s hard
to see any current contenders except
"Thug Rose" defeat Jedrzejczyk, even
if it is a major long shot. With a win
here, Namajunas gets her second shot
at UFC gold before her 25th birthday.
On the other hand, a loss here shows
that Namajunas still has more to learn
before she can challenge for the belt
again.
This is a far more vital fight for
Kowalkiewicz. Unlike her opponent,
the Polish striker is already 30 years
old, so she should be in her athletic
prime. If she’s to rise to the top and
hold the belt, her moment is now.
A win gets her that opportunity.
Alternatively, Kowalkiewicz loses quite
a bit of momentum if she comes up
short. That’s not to say she cannot
work her way to a title shot —
Strawweight is lacking in potential
opponents for Joanna "Champion" —
but she’ll need at least two or three
wins.
At UFC 201, Rose Namajunas and
Karolina Kowalkiewicz will look to earn
a title shot. Which fighter will have her
hand raised?
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