Manager: Rose Namajunas out of UFC 249 after family deaths

  manr of Rose Namajunas says former UFC strawweight champion won't fight at UFC 249 on April 18 after two deaths in her family related to coronavirus pandemic.

Brian Butler posted news on Instagram on Thursday.

“Her hopes are to return to Octagon as soon as possible, but for w we ask for people to respect ir privacy during this time,” he wrote.

Namajunas (8-4) was scheduled for a rematch with former champion Jéssica Andre in penultimate bout of UFC 249. Andre (20-7) beat Namajunas last May to claim title, but subsequently lost it to current champ Zhang Weili.

UFC didn't immediately anunce a replacement opponent for Andre.

Namajunas, who is well kwn among UFC fans for her shaved he and “Thug Rose” nickname, became third strawweight champion in UFC history when she upset Joanna Jedrzejczyk in vember 2017. She is a Milwaukee native who lives and trains in Coloro.

Despite thorough upheaval on card and major logistical hurdles, UFC President Dana White remains determined to hold a pay-per-view fight card and several ditional shows while all or major sports organizations worldwide have come to a halt.

White still hasn’t officially disclosed location for UFC 249, but it is expected to be held at an arena on tribal lands in California. ESPN will brocast show, which will be helined by an interim lightweight title bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje.

main event of UFC 249 was changed last week when lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov dropped out and was replaced by Gaethje.

Nurmagomedov left U.S. when UFC 249 was moved out of Brooklyn and was briefly slated to be held in United Arab Emirates. Nurmagomedov returned to his native Russia when that plan was scrapped, and unbeaten champ is eir unable or unwilling to leave again due to pandemic.

White has said he intends to hold UFC 249 and several ditional shows in an empty arena with minimal personnel around c. He also claims to be planning extensive health screening measures, but hasn't gone into details.