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Video: Before UFC 223, watch champ Rose Namajunas handle Paige VanZant

Rose Namajunas is on a 5-1 run as she heads into her first UFC title defense, and it included this slick win over Paige VanZant.

Back in 2015 at UFC Fight Night 80, Namajunas was still on the rebound following her tournament-final title loss to Carla Esparza at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale. After topping Angela Hill, officials then matched up Namajunas with another heavily hyped prospect: VanZant.

The five-round headliner ultimately netted Namajunas a “Performance of the Night” bonus. Check out the full fight above.

And catch Namajunas (7-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC), who’s No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA women’s strawweight rankings, back in action at UFC 223, where she remataches Joanna Jedrzejczyk (14-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and looks to make it 2-0 over the ex-titleholder and No. 2-ranked 115-pounder.

UFC 223 takes place April 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and the main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

For more on UFC 223, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

[sigallery id=”PRfxKkNk5hxschbqceYpyk” title=”Namajunas def. Jedrzejczyk” type=”sigallery”]

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