Cape Town - The co-main event of UFC 201 pits two top strawweight contenders against one another with the winner most likely to get a crack at the title.
The bout features two top 5 strawweights as Rose Namajunas and Kaorlina Kowalkiewicz will trade leather to possibly determine the No. 1 contender spot in the 115-pound division currently ruled by Polish champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Namajunas (5-2) is a former Invivta FC fighter and TUF standout who made it to the finale where she lost to Carla Esparza via submission. Since then, "Thug Rose" has been on an absolute tear going 3-0 with victories over Angela Hill, Paige VanZant and most recently over Tecia Torres. Now just days away from UFC 201 Namajunas is potentially just one win away from facing the divisions reigning queen but first another Polish standout is in her way.
Kowalkiewicz is undefeated in her MMA career (9-0) and will make her third walk to the octagon in her biggest fight to date, opposite a top 3 strawweight. Kowalkiewicz has fought and beaten some of the promotions toughest names in Randa Markos and Heather Jo Clark and with a victory over Namajunas she would move up the 115-pound ladder and be one step closer to facing fellow Polish star, Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
With no clear cut No.1 contender for Jedrzejczyk's title either one of these two women could walk away from Saturday's fight with a future title shot in their back pocket.
UFC 201 takes place Saturday Jul. 30 from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Gerogia and is headlined by a welterweight title fight between champion Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley.