We’re almost a quarter of the way through 2024. The penultimate weekend of March brings with it more action from MMA‘s top promotion. Saturday night, the UFC‘s stint at the Apex facility continues with UFC Vegas 89 and the UFC Vegas 89 main event.
Live coverage of UFC Vegas 89 is spread across the ESPN platforms inside the United States. Undercard action begins at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on ESPN+, while the main card follows at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on ESPN proper. As always, the entirety of the card is streamed on ESPN’s subscription-based platform.
All told, barring any cancellations between now and the weekend, the final version of UFC Vegas 89 will feature a full 13-fight slate. There’s only a single ranked fighter on the show, and she’s appearing in the UFC Vegas 89 main event.
Ribas Meets Namajunas in UFC Vegas 89 Main Event Saturday Night
No. 8 contender Amanda Ribas (13-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC), who’s also the No. 7 contender at strawweight, moves back to flyweight for Saturday’s headlining bout versus unranked Rose Namajunas (11-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC.) As with almost all UFC main events since 2011, the UFC Vegas 89 main event is an advertised five rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
She always puts on a show when she's inside the Octagon 🤩
Amanda Ribas is headlining #UFCVegas89 this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/2PlnstWQbD
— UFC (@ufc) March 18, 2024
UFC Vegas 89 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the UFC Vegas 89 main event on Saturday night, Rose Namajunas stands as the taller contestant at 5-foot-5, compared to the 5-foot-4 frame of Amanda Ribas. The latter owns a one-inch reach advantage (66 inches to 65 inches) over the former, with Namajunas holding a 2 1/2-inch leg reach advantage (39 1/2 inches to 37 inches even) over Ribas.
As of Thursday afternoon, the oddsmakers have Rose Namajunas installed as a-235 favorite on the money line, with Amanda Ribas countering as a +180 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Ribas to Take to Octagon for First Main Event Bout in UFC on Saturday
Amanda Ribas has posted a record of 3-2 in her last five fights, alternating wins and losses in her last four. Most recently, she found herself in the win column thanks to a third-round knockout (spinning wheel kick and punches) over Luana Pinheiro (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) back in November during UFC on ESPN+ 90.
Saturday’s main event will have a different feel for Amanda Ribas and her camp since this is the first time that she’s headlined a card since joining the UFC’s active roster in June of 2019. During her Wednesday media availability, Ribas talked about the emotions she felt when arriving for fight week.
“Since my first time that I signed a UFC poster, I was [imagining] my face there,” Ribas told the press. “Yesterday, I signed with my face. Since the first day at the camp, I was ‘Okay, the time is now. You’re doing the main event, so let’s go.'”
This is a moment that Amanda Ribas has not only been waiting almost five years for since joining the UFC’s roster, but also her entire professional career for. Can she deliver a resume-building victory Saturday night in Las Vegas? Tune in and find out.
Rose Namajunas Has Big Goals for Later This Year
In the other corner, Rose Namajunas has posted a record of 3-2 in her last five UFC appearances, but she’s fallen on hard times as of late. Entering the UFC Vegas 89 main event on Saturday night, she’s currently on a two-fight losing streak in MMA, as well as a three-fight losing streak across all disciplines, counting a grappling bout in December of 2022.
Over the Labor Day weekend, she dropped a unanimous decision to Manon Fiorot (11-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) during UFC Paris, her flyweight debut. Even though she’s lost two consecutive fights inside the cage, it hasn’t stopped her from setting the bar high for the rest of 2024, as Namajunas pointed out Wednesday during her media session.
“Becoming [a] two-division champion this year would be awesome,” Namajunas told reporters. “I know that’s a very steep mountain to climb and I know I had some setbacks, so obviously, I’ve got to be realistic, but I do believe that’s very, very realistic and God willing, that’s what’s going to happen. I’ve just got to take care of business this weekend and that’s what we’ll do.”
A victory over Amanda Ribas is a step in the right direction, but will she take that first step?
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Stylistically, the UFC Vegas 89 main event looks to favor Rose Namajunas, a black belt in Taekwondo, karate, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, compared to Amanda Ribas’ status as a black belt in BJJ and judo.
Ribas Slick with Subs
Statistically speaking, four of Amanda Ribas’ career wins have come by way of submission. When it happens, like it did against Paige VanZant on Fight Island in 2020, it can be quite the sight to behold.
During the first round of a scheduled three, Ribas drove VanZant up against the cage fence and completed a takedown. It was all over but the shouting from there, as she put VanZant into a scarf hold and softened her up with ground and pound shots.
About two minutes in, Ribas executed an armbar to force VanZant to tap out. If Amanda Ribas can take Rose Namajunas down, she’ll take the momentum in the UFC Vegas 89 main event.
Rose Namajunas Has a Great Ground Game Herself
In the other corner, don’t discount Rose Namajunas’ ground game. She had to battle back to get a submission over Michelle Waterson in 2017.
Round two saw Namajunas knock Waterson down thanks to a head kick, landing some ground and pound once she was on the mat. Although Waterson got back up, Namajunas took her down again, this time to stay, locking up a rear-naked choke in under three minutes.
If Rose Namajunas can drive Amanda Ribas to the canvas, she can expertly utilize the ground game advantageously to come away with the victory on Saturday.
Final Thoughts
While this may not be the best UFC card of 2024 on paper, something amazing can happen on any given Saturday night in the famous UFC Octagon. The UFC Vegas 89 main event may end up being a whopper of a fight.
Prediction: Rose Namajunas by Third-Round Submission.
