The women’s strawweight division is in need of credible challengers to face champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The next contender could be Rose Namajunas, a gritty, violent bundle of raw talent who has already climbed to the top of the weight class at just 24 years old. This Saturday “Thug’s” fight against the undefeated Karolina Kowalkiewicz could seal her shot at the title.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Karolina Kowalkiewicz +210
Rose Namajunas -250
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -210, under +175
Please note, the UFC odds at BookMaker are updated daily.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Namajunas is the clear favorite for a reason. She arguably has one of the highest ceilings in the 115-pound division, and we’ve seen her make clear strides toward it with each passing fight. Kowalkiewicz is plenty scrappy in her own right, but she hasn’t been as dominant as Rose since debuting in the UFC. Namajunas’ line might get even more expensive on fight night, so bet accordingly.
FIGHT PREVIEW
It wasn’t long ago that Namajunas was simply a raw prospect with massive potential. Though just seven fights into her career, the improvements she’s made have been exponential. Before, she got by on pure aggression, cardio and heart alone. But her fight against Tecia Torres showed how she’s evolving her game.
As a tall strawweight, Thug has finally begun to understand how to work behind a rangy jab. Her wild combinations have been replaced by fluid punch-kick techniques and she’s now good enough to pick apart rudimentary strikers like Paige VanZant.
The best part of Namajunas’ game is still the clinch. Once she has opponents pressed into the cage, Rose is nonstop action. Armed with excellent headfighting technique, Thug will batter opponents with knees and soften them up for a variety of inside trips. Once she’s on top, she never stops trying to advance position, draining her opponent’s cardio.
Kowalkiewicz is similar to the earlier version Namajunas in a variety of ways. Primarily a points fighter, she tends to overwhelm opponents with a high output. Even in a division filled with extremely well-conditioned athletes, Kowalkiewicz’ cardio is notable. She is very good at outworking fighters.
While good conditioning is a fine base to craft a game, there are still many technical flaws in the Polish native’s game. She can get sloppy in exchanges, and her tendency to stand in the pocket leaves her open to big shots. So far, she’s been able to eat them and return the favor, but she might want to avoid such risks considering how bad Namajunas bloodied up Paige VanZant.
BREAKDOWN AND PREDICTION
This is Namajunas’ fight to lose. She is much more technically refined in nearly every phase of MMA. While Kowalkiewicz tends to fight to the level of competition, it’s difficult to see her raising her game to the level of Rose, who is currently the No. 2 ranked fighter behind Claudia Gadelha. This should be a fun, frenetic fight, but Namajunas will pull away in the end.
The best value here might be the over on 2.5 rounds. Kowalkiewicz has the cardio to scrap her way to the final bell, and her last four fights have gone to decision. This Saturday should mark the fifth straight occasion.
UFC odds: Namajunas UD Kowalkiewicz
HOW TO BET
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