UFC 201: Will Kowalkiewicz Get Mugged By “Thug” Rose?

The co-headliner at UFC 201 sees Rose Namajunas take on the undefeated Pole, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, in a contest coated in No.1 title contender — the victorious one will no doubt punch her ticket to a title shot against the 115-pound divisions’ unrelenting queenpin Joanna Jedrezjczyk.

Kowalkiewicz, 30, makes her third appearance inside the eight-walled cage, and will be determined to keep her nine-fight win streak and that precious “O” intact.

However, in Namajunas (5-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), she won’t be throwing down with a lily white rose, but a “Thug Rose” whose submission game has improved exponentially, not to mention her ever-growing wrestling skill set.
Namajunas’ only loss since taking up residency in the Zuffa-based promotion came against Carla Esparza for the inaugural women’s strawweight title back in December of 2014.

Following that defeat, the 24-year-old Milwaukee native has been on a three-fight tear — upending both Angela Hill and Paige VanZant via submission, and in her last outing derailed any soon-to-be title aspirations Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres might’ve harboured.

Though skilled in her own right, Kowalkiewicz (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) lacks the requisite ground game or punching power to trouble the ameliorating Namajunas.

Furthermore, six of her nine outings have resulted in decision wins, which doesn’t bode well for her, as Namajunas’ mindset is all about the finish — submission finishes — four in her five victories thus far.

At UFC 201, the near shaven-headed “Thug” Rose gets to inflict upon Kowalkiewicz, a highlight reel mugging in front of a crowd of thousands under the bright lights of the Philips Arena, which is situated somewhere in the far reaches of “The ATL.”

Prediction: Namajunas via second-round submission.

UFC 201 is set to go down July 30, 2016 in Atlanta.

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