Manon Fiorot plans on giving Rose Namajunas a rude awakening at flyweight.
Fiorot (10-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) meets Namajunas (11-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) at a UFC Fight Night event on Sept. 2 at Accor Arena in Paris.
Namajunas, a two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion, will be competing at 125 pounds for the first time in the octagon. But Fiorot doesn’t see “Thug Rose” being physically prepared for the challenge.
“I’m taller and stronger, and I’m pretty sure in a few months you can’t prepare well a move up to flyweight,” Fiorot told MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “I don’t know. I think she took her time and prepared well, but I think I have a big advantage in the power and size.”
Not only does Fiorot think she has a strength advantage, she’s confident she has the edge wherever the fight goes.
“I’m better in all the MMA disciplines: wrestling, standup and grappling, too,” Fiorot said. “I think I have a big advantage physically, too.”
Prior to Alexa Grasso dethroning Valentina Shevchenko, Fiorot was the No. 1 ranked flyweight. Another pivotal 125-pound matchup between Erin Blanchfield and Taila Santos, which takes place Aug. 26, could determine the No. 1 contender, but Fiorot sees a big performance over Namajunas putting her next in line.
“To be honest, the UFC didn’t tell us anything about that, but I’m pretty sure I’m the No. 1 contender,” Fiorot said. “If I do a good performance, it’s for me and we will see after the fight.”
