Faber: In her mind, PVZ is ready for Jedrzejczyk
Urijah Faber: “Right now, a fight with Namajunas — VanZant as to be able to win a fight like that, and I think she will. In her mind, she’s ready for Joanna Jedrzejczyk.”
On this week’s Five Rounds, ESPN.com writer and MMA Live Extra analyst Brett Okamoto, squared off with UFC bantamweight contender Urijah Faber to debate the latest news and trends including the fight between Team Alpha Male’s Paige VanZant and Rose Namajunas at UFC Fight Night 80 on Dec.10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
An injury to Joanne Calderwood has changed Paige VanZant’s opponent on Dec. 10 to Rose Namajunas. Is that matchup a case of too much, too soon for the 21-year-old UFC strawweight?
Faber: The more I get to know VanZant, the more I think any matchup is good for her. She has a really natural ability to push the pace and be in amazing shape. It’s like, you can’t get that girl tired. So I think it’s a real good matchup. People always like to downplay someone if they’re marketable and good-looking, but the fact is that she gets out there and performs. Right now, a fight with Namajunas — VanZant as to be able to win a fight like that, and I think she will. In her mind, she’s ready for Joanna Jedrzejczyk, which is the important thing. The one thing I’d worry about is Jedrzejczyk has had 80 fights as a Muay Thai practitioner. So, as one of VanZant’s mentors and teammates, I’d like to see her get more experience before she fights for the strap.
Okamoto: I don’t see it that way at all. Namajunas is definitely more polished, has more experience than VanZant, but she’s not a finished product herself. She’s 23 and had her pro MMA debut only two years ago. I have Namajunas ranked as the No. 8 strawweight in the world and VanZant No. 9. That’s not too much, too soon. And it wouldn’t surprise me to see VanZant open as the favorite in this fight.
