Grasso vs. Namajunas Set For UFC 324

The Approach

Grasso excels in the mid-to-close range, often ending with a powerful body shot or a swift left hook. She will need to be aggressive with her forward pressure, cutting off Namajunas’s escape angles to keep the fight from becoming a sparring match at distance. Grasso’s most potent weapon in this weight class is the rear-naked choke, which she used to upset Shevchenko. If Namajunas attempts a takedown (a growing part of her game at flyweight), Grasso will use her grappling defensively. More proactively, if she lands a powerful combination, she will look to follow up with a snap-down or throw Namajunas to the ground.

Namajunas will want to keep the fight at the end of her punches and kicks, using her superior range to attack Grasso as she enters. Her main objective is to keep Grasso guessing and prevent her from settling into rhythm, similar to how Natalia Silva recently defeated Grasso. Against Grasso, she may choose to shoot for takedowns, not necessarily to hold top position, but to break Grasso’s striking rhythm and steal rounds.