Rose Namajunas (8-3) meets Jessica Andrade (19-6) in the Octagon this weekend as the UFC banner flies high in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Namajunas, the 26-year-old strawweight champion, returns to the cage for the first time since her successful two-fight series with Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who previously thought to be all but unbeatable. “Thug Rose” handled her twice. Now the defending beltholder has a new challenger, amped to be competing in front of her hometown fans, ready to take not only the belt but also her head off Namajunas.
Andrade, 27, is a warring fighter. She’s won six of her last seven contests, earning four post-fight bonuses in the process.
The two share a common opponent in Jedrzejczyk. The Brazilian challenger wasn’t so lucky against the Polish striker, dropping a five-round decision to her in May 2017.
UFC 237 start time
ESPN has this event covered. The main card pay-per-view (that includes Namajunas-Andrade) can be purchased through ESPN+, with the premium action kicking off at 10:00 p.m. ET.
The middle preliminaries, featuring “Big Nog” Nogueira and BJ Penn competing in separate bouts, will be broadcast on regular ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET.
And the network’s streaming service ESPN+ will air the four curtain jerkers, beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET.
Fight card and latest odds
Rose Namajunas (-105) vs. Jéssica Andrade (-125)
Jared Cannonier (-140) vs. Anderson Silva (+110)
José Aldo (-140) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (+110)
Thiago Alves (-115) vs. Laureano Staropoli (-115)
Francisco Trinaldo (+145) vs. Diego Ferreira (-175)
Antônio Rogério Nogueira (+115) vs. Ryan Spann (-145)
Thiago Moisés (-135) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (+105)
Irene Aldana (-310) vs. Bethe Correia (+240)
Clay Guida (-700) vs. BJ Penn (+450)
Priscila Cachoeira (+145) vs. Luana Carolina (-175)
Warlley Alves (-145) vs. Sérgio Moraes (+115)
Raoni Barcelos (-1000) vs. Carlos Huachin Quiroz (+600)
Talita Bernardo (-500) vs. Melissa Gatto (+350)
All odds provided by Bovada.com.