UFC Atlanta results: Rose Namajunas scores late knockdown on Miranda Maverick, cruises to decision win

Rose Namajunas nearly scored a late finish with a knockdown on Miranda Maverick but ultimately she cruised to a unanimous decision in in the UFC Atlanta co-main event.

There were more than a few wild exchanges early including a couple of intense scrambles on the ground that saw both fighters nearly lock up a submission. The real difference came on the feet where Namajunas used fast hands, quick footwork, and solid power to keep Maverick off balance, which included a blistering punch in the third round that resulted in the only knockdown.

When it was over, the judges scored the fight 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 with Namajunas getting the nod.

“I was pretty sure [I won], I think it came down to the third round,” Namajunas said afterward. “Dropped her and stayed on top of her most of the time. She fought like a dog, I really respect that.”

There was an early disparity in the striking acumen with Namajunas showcasing solid footwork and slick setups as Maverick was stuck chasing her with little success. Namajunas also connected well with her counters whenever Maverick became more aggressive and dropped her defensive posture in the exchanges.

Namajunas decided to go for a takedown, but Maverick was able to resist and shrug her off before the flyweights continued trading shots on the feet for the remainder of the opening round.

From there, Namajunas showed more confidence in her hands as she uncorked rapid-fire combinations that caught Maverick’s attention. She also countered a kick from Maverick and brought the fight down to the canvas with Namajunas on top looking to inflict damage.

Namajunas eventually transitioned to take the back and that’s where she got her arm under the chin momentarily and nearly locked on a rear-naked choke. Maverick eventually broke free and reversed positions and nearly scored a finish of her own with a nasty arm-triangle choke just before the end of the round.

With a close fight through 10 minutes, Namajunas landed the biggest shot of the night with a lightning quick hook that caught Maverick and sent her crashing to the canvas. The exchange happened so quickly it required a replay to see where Namajunas landed her punch before Maverick crashed to the ground.

Namajunas followed her to the ground where she looked for an arm-triangle choke of her own, but Maverick slipped out before the scrambles continued as the fighters continued battling for position in the grappling exchange. Still, Namajunas scoring that knockdown likely helped her secure the round and ultimately the fight.

Now 3-2 as a flyweight, Namajunas takes out another proven contender with hopes this latest win gets her that much closer to a higher ranked opponent as she continues to pursue a title at 125 pounds.