Amanda Ribas predicts third-round KO of Rose Namajunas at UFC on ESPN 53, quick turnaround for Brazil

Amanda Ribas hopes 2024 is the year that brings her career to a new level, starting with this month’s UFC on ESPN 53 main event vs. Rose Namajunas.

Ribas (12-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has been chasing a matchup with Namajunas (11-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC) for several years now, and it will finally happen on March 23 when she takes on the former two-time strawweight champion in a five-round women’s flyweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN, ESPN+).

The dream fight for Ribas is rapidly approaching, and the significance is not lost on her.

“If someone had said to me that in five years time I would be the main event of a card against Rose Namajunas, I would not have believed them and I would have told them to shut up,” Ribas told Stake.com. “My manifestations for 2024 are simply being able to do in the octagon what I do in the gym on a daily basis and to be consistent with my skills. I’m training really well, and I just hope that I can get this big win.”

Ribas, 30, has bounced between 115 pounds and 125 pounds pounds multiple times during her UFC tenure. She told MMA Junkie after her third-round TKO of Luana Pinheiro at UFC Fight Night 232 in November that she intended to stick to strawweight, but she could not turn down the opportunity to fight Namajunas.

It’s a crucial clash for “Thug Rose,” who is coming off back-to-back losses. Namajunas has struggled to get her offense going in decision defeats to Manon Fiorot and Carla Esparza, but Ribas is not expecting that version in their fight.

“I know I need to specialize in my conditioning for this fight because I am prepared to do five rounds, and Rose is really good with her cardio,” Ribas said. “She is fast, as well. I need to keep my distance and conserve my energy, because I cannot let her get to her maximum velocity or into her flow state. I need to be very careful of that.”

If everything goes perfectly for Ribas, she said she will put Namajunas away inside the distance while taking minimal damage. That could set her up for a quick turnaround to fight at UFC 301 on May 4 in Rio de Janeiro, which would set Ribas up with plenty of momentum going into the back half of the year.

“I can stop her with my distance and my striking, so I think that I will knock Rose out in the third round,” Ribas said. “I would love to fight at UFC Rio, as well, and I would love to get a bonus.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.