Rose Namajunas came into her fight with Joanna Jedrzejczyk as the biggest underdog on the entire UFC 217 card. That makes her win to claim the strawweight title a bonafide shock, but how she did it is even more of an upset.
According to at least two different sports betting sites, odds of a Namajunas win by TKO or KO were +2500 (meaning a bet of $100 would win you $2,500). That makes it one of the least likely possible results – second only to a draw (+8000) – according to the odds.
It makes sense, of course. Namajunas (7-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) had never won a pro fight via strikes. Jedrzejczyk (14-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) had never lost as an MMA fighter, and she was known for her prowess as a kickboxer. To see her lose the title was shocking enough. To see her get knocked out by an opponent known for her submissions was the last thing most of us expect.
But if you’re trying to collect on that far-fetched prop bet, that’s where the exact nature of the fight’s ending becomes an issue. The bout was announced as a win by knockout, but it appeared that Jedrzejczyk actually tapped to strikes, which might make it technically a submission.
It seems like a small distinction, especially in the big picture of a huge upset and UFC title shakeup. But if you’re the one with money on the line, suddenly it seems to matter a whole heck of a lot.
For more on UFC 217, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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