Rose Namajunas took her first step in a quest to reach the top of the flyweight division, outpointing Amanda Ribas (13-5) by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.
Namajunas (12-6), a two-time UFC champion at strawweight, ended a two-bout losing streak. Two of the judges gave Namajunas four of the five rounds, and the other judge scored three in her favor.
"Man, it's good to get your hand raised," said Namajunas, who came in ranked No. 9 in ESPN's flyweight rankings despite having lost her 125-pound debut to Manon Fiorot in September.
Ribas (13-5), who is ranked ninth at strawweight, was able to score four takedowns, but she ended up in bottom position in all but one occasion. Namajunas did not deliver a lot of damage from the top, but she had nearly seven minutes of control time. Ribas attempted a few submissions but made little effort to get back up, and that cost her.
When the fight was standing, Ribas was busier with strike attempts, but Namajunas was far more accurate, landing at just under 50%. Neither woman wobbled the other with strikes. Namajunas controlled the range all fight long, but the power she had shown at strawweight was not present against Ribas.
"I know I still got things to work on," Namajunas said. "She did really good, but I was able to just stay calm in there."
Afterward, when asked whom she wants next, Namajunas mentioned the two flyweights who meet in next weekend's UFC main event, Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield, as well as Maycee Barber. All are ranked ahead of her in the ESPN rankings.