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Contemplating how a lot she has developed as a fighter, Mackenzie Dern sees Rose Namajunas defeating Carla Esparza and avenging one of many first losses of her skilled profession.
Greater than seven years in the past, Namajunas and Esparza fought at The Final Fighter 20 finale. ‘Thug’ was submitted via third-round rear-naked choke by the ‘Cookie Monster’, who turned the first-ever strawweight champion in UFC historical past. Quick ahead to 2022 and now Namajunas has the championship, with Esparza nonetheless sitting close to the highest of the division and hoping to reclaim what she as soon as held.
The important thing to victory for Esparza was her wrestling, which she has used to overwhelm her opponents on the bottom. It could come as no shock to see that in play once more in her upcoming rematch with Namajunas, however Dern has seen a much-improved floor sport from the champion for the reason that first struggle. And due to these enhancements, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace informed Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie that she expects to listen to ‘and nonetheless’ at UFC 274 in Might.
“I believe Rose goes to win simply because I believe she’s developed a lot in all totally different areas,” stated Dern. “Her floor, her takedowns — I imply simply together with her struggle with Zhang Weili, they had been taking one another down. So to see Rose getting the takedowns in that struggle and stuff like that was actually entertaining. Her placing, she’s exact. Her placing is simply wanting so good.”
Although she selected Namajunas over Esparza, Dern additionally defined that an upset is just not far-fetched. Stylistically, Esparza can pose a menace to only about anybody. Nevertheless, Dern stays assured in Namajunas to keep away from any potential fight-ending situations just like the one she fell to.
“I believe Rose goes to get the win, however I received’t be stunned if Carla will get an upset or one thing like that,” stated Dern. “Carla has simply gotten so good at implementing her sport and it’s like, who’s going to win? The person who’s form of extra all-around, or the person who’s Khabib-style that is aware of their sport and may implement it and simply placed on that stress regardless of who she fights? That’s what I believe Carla actually brings to the desk. She’s simply good and regardless of who she fights, she’s in a position to put her sport on. I’m not like that.
“I do know everybody says, ‘Take it to the bottom, take it to the bottom,’ after which unexpectedly once I see I’m two rounds in and I’m placing, and I’m liking the placing, however clearly my placing is just not precisely the place I’m with different ladies. So the truth that Carla has that have and that maturity as a fighter to place her sport with whoever, I believe that’s harmful. However I don’t see Rose giving up her neck or again like she did the primary time. I don’t see them falling into the identical kind of struggle because the final time they fought.”
As for Dern, she returns to the Octagon in opposition to Tecia Torres at UFC 273 on April 9 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Area in Jacksonville, Fla.
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