Rose Namajunas is frustrated by Manon Fiorot and loses in her flyweight debut in the co-main fight of UFC Paris

Manon Fiorot (left) defeated Rose namajunas (dir.) in UFC Paris. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Willing to repeat, in flyweight (up to 56,7kg), the success achieved in strawweight (up to 52,1kg) in Ultimate, Rose namajunas failed in its debut in the new category. Featured in the co-main fight of UFC Paris, held this Saturday (2), the North American paid the price of the smaller scale and ended up frustrated by the promising Manon Fiorot. After three hard-fought rounds with flashes of good moments, the company's former champion was defeated by the judges' unanimous decision.

The negative result represents Rose's second consecutive defeat in his career. Such a scenario has not occurred since 2014, when the North American company accumulated stumbles in the face of Tecia torres e Carla esparza.

Responsible for 'ruining the party' of Namajunas in UFC Paris, Fiorot has a lot to celebrate. Current number three in the rankings, the Frenchwoman has won six consecutive victories in the company, defending her unbeaten record in the company and getting closer to fighting for the belt in the group.

Anticlimax for MMA icon

The fight began with Namajunas taking the initiative with a straight shot, which went empty. Fiorot responded with jabs and made use of his greater reach. Still in the first minute, a cross from Manon knocked the former strawweight champion off balance. The North American tried to combine attacks, but found it difficult to find the best distance. The challenge was tense, with the fighters avoiding any fatal mistakes. In the final minute, Fiorot surprised with a high kick, but Rose was unfazed. At a disadvantage in the striking, Namajunas looked for a takedown, but the Frenchwoman defended well.

In the second round, the first attack was from Manon, with a combination of jab and direct. With a minute to go, Namajunas looked for another takedown, but fell 'into the void' after the Frenchwoman's dodge. Fiorot once again unbalanced the former strawweight champion with a series of crosses. Rose was heading towards the UFC promise, but was still at a disadvantage in the fight.

In the last round, Namajunas looked for a takedown again in the opening seconds. The Frenchwoman, however, remained alert and protected herself well from the North American's attacks. Between the first and second rounds, Rose reported a fracture in one of her fingers, so the former strawweight champion adopted a conservative stance. The fight ended with the athletes studying each other in the center of the Octagon.

UFC Paris results

MAIN CARD

Heavy weights (up to 120,2kg): Cyryl Gane derrotou Sergey Spivak by technical knockout at 3m44s of R2

Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Manon Fiorot derrotou Rose namajunas in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Light weight (up to 70,3kg): Benoit Saint-Denis derrotou Thiago Moses by technical knockout in R2

Light heavyweight (up to 93kg): Volkan oezdemir finished Bogdan Guskov with a rear naked choke at 3m46s of R1

Featherweight (up to 65,7kg): William Gomis derrotou Yanis Ghemmouri by technical knockout at 2m20s of R3

Featherweight (up to 65,7kg): Morgan Carriere defeated Manolo Zecchini by knockout at 3m51s of R1

PRELIMINARY CARD

Bantamweight (up to 61,2kg): Taylor lapilus derrotou Caolan Loughran in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Welterweight (up to 77,1kg): Ange Loosa derrotou rhys mckee in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27- 29-28, 29-28)

Bantamweight (up to 61,2kg): Nora Cornolle derrotou Joselyne Edwards in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Bantamweight (up to 61,2kg): Farid Basharat finished Kleydson Rodrigues with a katagatame 4m15s from R1

Married weight (up to 63,5kg): Jacqueline Cavalcanti defeated Zarah Fairn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

UFC Paris Stats