Is Rose Namajunas Retired? Who is Rose Namajunas?

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Who is Rose Namajunas?

Rose Namajunas is an American professional mixed martial artist. She is known for competing in the women’s Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), one of the premier organizations in the sport of MMA. Rose Namajunas has had a highly successful career in the UFC and holds the distinction of being a former two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion.

As of November 14, 2022, she holds the #2 ranking in the UFC women’s strawweight division. Additionally, as of June 20, 2023, she is ranked #4 in the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings. These rankings reflect her status as one of the top female fighters in the world, showcasing her skills, achievements, and contributions to the sport.

Throughout her career, Rose Namajunas has earned a reputation as a talented and versatile fighter, with notable victories over some of the best female fighters in the sport, including capturing the strawweight championship on two occasions. Her success and skills in the octagon have made her a prominent figure in women’s MMA, and she continues to be a respected and accomplished athlete in the UFC.

What Happened to Rose Namajunas?

Rose Namajunas, the former two-time UFC strawweight champion, went through a period of uncertainty and contemplation about her MMA career after losing her belt to Carla Esparza at UFC 274. This unexpected loss, characterized by a lack of action, left Namajunas questioning her desire to continue competing in the sport. Namajunas had previously been known for thrilling fans with her impressive victories, including notable knockouts of Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Zhang Weili to capture and defend her strawweight championship. However, the defeat to Esparza was a stark departure from her usual style.

In the aftermath of her loss, Namajunas revealed that she didn’t feel aggressive and had reservations about hurting her opponents. These feelings led her to contemplate retirement. It was not the first time she had considered hanging up her gloves, but this instance seemed particularly significant. Namajunas reflected on the violent nature of MMA and wondered if it was in alignment with her spiritual beliefs.

She questioned whether continuing her fighting career was part of a “Godly life.” However, after some time away from the sport and deep introspection, she realized that she still had the warrior spirit within her. She believes that she has been gifted with a unique fighting talent and the warrior spirit, and she is convinced that her MMA journey is not yet complete in the eyes of a higher power. This realization motivated her to return to the sport and continue pursuing her career.

Namajunas is set to make her flyweight debut against top contender Manon Fiorot at a UFC Fight Night event on September 2nd. This transition to a new weight class marks a new chapter in her career, and she seems determined to prove that she still has what it takes to compete at the highest level of mixed martial arts. Despite the uncertainties and moments of doubt, Rose Namajunas appears ready to continue her journey as a fighter and embrace the next challenges that lie ahead.

Is Rose Namajunas Retired?

Rose Namajunas is not retired from MMA. She did, however, contemplate retirement after her loss to Carla Esparza at UFC 274. After the disappointing performance and a feeling of not wanting to hurt anyone, Namajunas seriously considered leaving the sport. She mentioned that it wasn’t the first time she had questioned whether she should continue fighting. However, after some introspection and time away from the sport, she came to the conclusion that she still had the warrior spirit within her and that fighting was what she believed she was called to do. She described it as a spiritual realization and a sense that she had a unique gift for being a fighter.

Namajunas is scheduled to make her flyweight debut against top contender Manon Fiorot at a UFC event on September 2nd. This indicates that she has decided to continue her MMA career and is not retired at this time. She seems to have a refreshed perspective on her career and a sense of freedom in her approach to fighting. Rose Namajunas did contemplate retirement, but she has since decided to continue competing in MMA and is set to make her return to the octagon.

Rose Namajunas Ranking

Rose Namajunas holds impressive positions in the UFC rankings:

UFC Women’s Strawweight Rankings (As of November 14, 2022)

• Rose Namajunas is ranked at #2 in the UFC Women’s Strawweight division.
• This ranking reflects her standing as one of the top contenders in the strawweight division, which is known for its competitive talent pool.

UFC Women’s Pound-for-Pound Rankings (As of June 20, 2023)

• Rose Namajunas is ranked at #4 in the UFC Women’s Pound-for-Pound rankings.
• This ranking places her among the elite female fighters in the UFC across all weight classes.
• Being in the top five of the pound-for-pound rankings is a testament to her exceptional skills, achievements, and contributions to the sport of mixed martial arts.

These rankings underscore Rose Namajunas’s status as a highly regarded and accomplished fighter in the UFC. Her consistent performances and championship victories have solidified her position as one of the best fighters in both her weight class and the sport as a whole.

Rose Namajunas Career in MMA

Rose Namajunas has had a remarkable career in mixed martial arts (MMA), especially in the UFC’s Strawweight division. Her journey in MMA can be summarized as follows:

Early Career

• Rose Namajunas began her MMA career as an amateur in 2010. She trained under Greg Nelson at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy.
• During her amateur career, she maintained a perfect record of 4-0, with two wins by TKO and two by decision.
• Her amateur success demonstrated her potential in the sport.

Invicta Fighting Championship

• Namajunas made her professional MMA debut against Emily Kagan at Invicta FC 4 on January 5, 2013, and secured a victory via submission with a rear-naked choke.
• Her second professional fight, against Kathina Catron at Invicta FC 5, lasted just 12 seconds, with Namajunas winning via a flying armbar.
• She also fought Tecia Torres at Invicta FC 6 but lost the fight by unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter

• In December 2013, Rose Namajunas signed with the UFC to compete on season 20 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which aimed to crown the first-ever UFC strawweight champion.
• She was the fourth pick by coach Gilbert Melendez and made her mark by defeating Alex Chambers and Joanne Calderwood via submission (rear-naked choke and kimura, respectively) in the preliminary rounds.
• In the semi-finals, she faced Randa Markos and won via kimura in the first round.
• In the final of the tournament, she fought Carla Esparza for the inaugural UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship but lost via rear-naked choke in the third round.
• Despite not winning the championship, Namajunas received two season bonuses for Performance of the Season and Fight of the Season for her bout with Joanne Calderwood.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

• Rose Namajunas’s UFC career continued as she faced various opponents:
  • She was scheduled to fight Nina Ansaroff in 2015, but the bout was canceled due to Ansaroff’s illness.
  • She defeated Angela Hill in 2015 via rear-naked choke in the first round.
  • In a short-notice fight, she faced Paige VanZant and won via submission (rear-naked choke) in the fifth round.
  • Namajunas secured a unanimous decision victory against Tecia Torres in their rematch in 2016.
  • She faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz in a title eliminator match but lost via split decision. This bout earned Fight of the Night honors.
  • Namajunas won against Michelle Waterson via rear-naked choke submission in 2017.

Strawweight Champion

• In a major upset, Rose Namajunas faced undefeated champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 217 in 2017 and won by KO in the first round, becoming the UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion.
• She successfully defended her title in a rematch with Jędrzejczyk at UFC 223, winning by unanimous decision.
• Namajunas spent the remainder of 2018 recovering from a spinal injury.
• In 2019, she lost her title to Jéssica Andrade via knockout but later won their rematch via split decision in 2020.
• Rose Namajunas faced Zhang Weili at UFC 261 in 2021 and won the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship for the second time with a knockout victory.
• She successfully defended her title against Zhang in a rematch at UFC 268 via split decision.

Post-Reign and Move to Flyweight

• Namajunas faced Carla Esparza in a rematch at UFC 274 in 2022 but lost via split decision.
• She is set to make her flyweight debut against Manon Fiorot in September 2023 at UFC on ESPN.

Fighting Style

• Rose Namajunas is known for her technical striking, utilizing forward movement, jabs, and high kicks.
• She employs advanced striking techniques and angles and is creative with her adjustments during fights.
• Namajunas is also skilled in grappling and has secured several submissions, including rear-naked chokes and kimuras.

Rose Namajunas’s career in MMA has been characterized by her resilience, technical prowess, and the ability to bounce back from setbacks, making her one of the most prominent and respected fighters in the strawweight division.

Rose Namajunas Family and Early Life

Rose Namajunas was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 29, 1992, to Lithuanian parents who had recently immigrated to the United States in September 1991. She was named “Rose” (Lithuanian: Rožė) in honor of her great-grandmother, Rožė Gotšalkaitė Namajūnienė, whose husband, Juozas, was an officer in the Independent Lithuania military. Juozas Namajūnas served in the Lithuanian military and bravely resisted both the Soviet and German occupations of Lithuania during World War II.

Tragically, he faced persecution under Soviet rule and lost his life in 1968. Rose maintains a strong connection to her Lithuanian heritage, frequently visiting Lithuania and communicating with her grandparents in the Lithuanian language. Rose’s early life was marked by challenges and resilience. Her father, Arturas, suffered from schizophrenia and left the family when she was still a child.

Sadly, he passed away in Germany in 2008 due to pneumonia when Rose was just 16 years old. Rose’s mother was a trained pianist, having received her education at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.  Rose grew up in a tough neighborhood in Milwaukee, primarily inhabited by African-Americans. From a young age, she witnessed violence in her surroundings.

Her neighborhood friends gave her the nickname “Thug Rose” because, as the only white girl among them, she displayed remarkable toughness despite her small stature. Despite the hardships she faced, Rose Namajunas graduated from the Milwaukee High School of the Arts and excelled as a cross-country runner during her school years.

Rose Namajunas Fiance

Rose Namajunas’ fiancé is Pat Barry, a former professional mixed martial artist who has competed in the UFC and is also known for his background in kickboxing. Namajunas and Pat Barry have a close relationship that goes beyond just being romantic partners. They have been together for over a decade, having met at Duke Roufus’ gym. Their connection began when Barry started training at the gym after losing his home to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Namajunas, on the other hand, began her training there during her high school years.

Pat Barry has not only been a romantic partner to Namajunas but also a coach, comrade, friend, and training partner. Their shared passion for martial arts and combat sports has played a significant role in their bond. While they have been together for many year, Rose Namajunas and Pat Barry had not yet had any children together. Their relationship has been centered around their careers in combat sports, and they have been supportive of each other’s endeavors in and out of the octagon.

What Happened to  Rose Namajunas – FAQs