Rose Namajunas: I think I've given people some great moments in the UFC

Rose Namajunas (12-6) is in the UFC history books. The American, of Lithuanian descent, was a two-time strawweight champion and is now looking for glory at flyweight.

Thug, one of the most charismatic fighters in the MMA world, will face Tracy Cortez (11-1) this weekend in Denver, and she spoke exclusively to MARCA beforehand.

It looks like 2024 is going to be a busy year

"Yeah, I just had a fight in March and I was able to get a quick win. So yeah, I'm going to be fighting again this Saturday."

Is there a chance we'll see you at strawweight again, or are you absolutely sure it's not going to happen?

"Yes, I am. I'm pretty sure I'm done at strawweight, but I'm a fighter to be rewarded... so you know, if there's a compelling prize on the table, then I can always be convinced."

When you see Weili Zhang, who is a fighter you defeated twice, with the belt, do you feel a bit envious?

"No, not at all. I've already won it twice, so I don't need to take the belt to know that I want it. You know what I mean? If she ever wants to go up to 125 pounds and we can do it there, you know, that's fine. I don't see the point in making that big of a weight cut. I don't feel like I want to do it and I don't do it. I don't feel like cutting weight. I don't feel like it makes you a better fighter. It doesn't really show. I feel like moving up in weight, it can show more skill because you have to do it because you can't use your weight as an advantage, plus it's just that making that weight cut doesn't show who the better fighter is.

"If she really wants to challenge herself, move up in weight and try to get the title back, to beat me I mean, then fine. But if she doesn't, you know, I totally understand, it's understandable. Or if UFC really wanted the fight for whatever reason and put the money up for it. You know, for me to come down and cut that extra weight then great. I know I could. I could be convinced, like I said, if they pay me really well."

What weight are you at when you enter the cage in the flyweight division?

"Maybe I'm up like 10 pounds after the cut. Like maybe 134, something like that."

What's your take on the weight-cut situation?

"I think to a certain extent it can be a good thing, but when it starts to get to the limits, there's just a strange balance. When it just becomes a weight cut, I'm like 'What are we doing here?' You know, 'Why are we doing this?' And I think that's the important thing for fighters. To ask yourself... 'Why are you fighting in that particular division that you're in?' Everybody is different, everybody has their path.

"And so for me, switching from fighting at strawweight wasn't just about the weight cut. It was also like I wanted some new challenges. I had a lot of rematches already at the top of the division, and I know there's new talent always coming in and there's always going to be someone new to fight, but I felt like I was a little bit.... You know, fighting the same people at the top of the rankings was like... I've already fought her twice."

Is it because of the way you are?

I'm not the type of person who thrives on beating someone I know I can beat. I like to challenge myself with this new challenge. Like, I don't know what this person brings to the table. Let me train super hard so that I can, you know, give my best version to beat this person, and of course, I believe in myself and I believe I can beat anybody on any given day. But I'm a real martial artist. I'm not just here to make noise in the cage. I really just want to prove myself. I want to see what I bring. That's why I get in there."

Your opponent now is Tracy Cortez. It's not an even fight, what is Tracy Cortez going to bring against you?

"It's I guess interesting because usually people think that I'm going to win my fights, and that's been the case a lot of times. To me, I think her ranking doesn't necessarily reflect what she brings to the table. I mean, people think she's only the 10th ranked in the division but I think the only problem with her is she's just not super active when it comes to fighting. Like she only fights once a year, that kind of thing.

"But, you know, it seems like those things are out of her control, it's not her choice. But other than that, if I think about her skills that she brings to the cage, she knows the game. She's very tough, I think she goes the distance a lot. As far as her skill level, she has great intelligence inside the cage. Like she just keeps getting better and better every time we see her, she gets better and better. You know, her striking is getting better and better. Her wrestling is obviously very good. Her top control is also very good. It's true that I know I'm on a different level, or at least I think so, and like I said, I'm going to find out on Saturday night."

Joana Jedrzejczyk talked about coming back to make a fight for the women's BMF championship. Do you think that would be an option for you?

"I guess it would be great. Obviously Joanna would be. She would definitely be the best candidate for that. And I think if someone can make a belt for a women's BMF, she'd probably be one of the first women that would come to mind. And if that would encourage her to come back, you know... maybe that would be something cool and entertaining. But yeah, for me... I'm not asking for that belt. I mean, I'm not going to push for it. But at the same time, if it happens, cool, you know, I'd be there."

What do you think of the debate about whether or not you're the GOAT at strawweight in UFC?

"I feel like that term is very relative. You know, the best of all time..... I mean, I guess you could say yes. Also, I feel like I think I gave people the biggest moments in the division. I think I had the most impactful highlights in the division in of, we're not just fighters, we're martial artists.

"Obviously, they were great opponents, but other than that I think those moments are just some of the greatest moments in the history of the division. And on the other hand, obviously, Weili Zhang is in that conversation as well. You know, she just keeps knocking down anybody they put in front of her. I had ups and downs, I wasn't as consistent as them, but I don't know, maybe it's comparing apples to pears. You know what I mean? So I feel like the GOAT conversation is ultimately going to be an opinion."