Rose Namajunas is preparing for a potentially career-defining fight against Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC women’s flyweight title, contingent on her defeating Natalia Silva at UFC 324, while reflecting on the emotional and professional significance of facing a fighter she admires and has trained with.
Rose Namajunas admits that facing Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC women’s flyweight title would be emotional. Yet, it would mark the pinnacle of her career.
To earn that chance, Namajunas must first defeat the rising Natalia Silva this Saturday at UFC 324. The event, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, features an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.
Back in August 2022, Namajunas mentioned moving to flyweight during an interview with MMA Fighting. She was torn about a potential fight with Shevchenko due to their past training sessions and friendship.
“Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, it definitely would be a culmination of my entire career,” Namajunas shared with MMA Fighting. She considers Shevchenko one of the greatest female fighters, making the matchup a dream fight.
Namajunas admires Shevchenko’s work ethic and consistency. “She’s an inspiration to me,” she added.
Shevchenko, on her second run as champion, defended her title twice in 2025, solidifying her top spot in the women’s pound-for-pound list. Namajunas, entering UFC 324 after a win over Miranda Maverick, sees the potential fight as comparable to her bouts with Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
“I was a big fan of hers, even with our rivalry,” Namajunas explained. Facing Shevchenko, however, is more complex due to their personal connection.
“But at the end of the day, it’s like, I mean, we also trained together,” she noted. Namajunas values the idea of being compensated for their efforts rather than just sparring in the gym.
The 33-year-old Namajunas has been told a win on Saturday could lead to a title shot. She aims to become the second woman in UFC history to be a two-division champion.
Originally set to fight Alexa Grasso, Namajunas now faces Silva, who’s on a seven-fight winning streak. She hopes the UFC delivers on the promise if she secures a victory.
“I’m just thankful I didn’t get the switch up like a couple weeks before the fight,” Namajunas said. She appreciates having time to prepare and is focused on delivering a stellar performance.
“I want to make sure that I put on the best performance possible,” she concluded. With a win, she’d be thrilled, but ultimately, she seeks personal satisfaction.