UFC Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas might just be the most easy-to-love fighter. Whether it be her wholesome character or moments in the octagon that have the commentator booth at a loss for words, Rose has proven herself to be a must-watch member of the UFC roster.
The two-time UFC Strawweight Champion came from humble beginnings, but she didn't let anything discourage her or get in the way. With her self-confidence and ability, she's on track to throwing her name into the conversation for the female GOAT. Thug Rose is a very interesting character, admirable fighter, and great personality.
10 Taekwondo Background
Rose Namajunas began training Taekwondo at age four. Born from an athletic lineage, Namajunas dabbled in almost any sport one could think of. Taekwondo and karate at a young age paved the way for a successful combat sports career.
Namajunas would go on to wrestle and practice jiu-jitsu, resulting in her being the well-rounded fighter she is today. The Taekwondo background really shows in Rose's performances, and might've been the tool that led her to reclaim the belt. Incredible leg dexterity and kicking speed has contributed to the champion's highlight reel. Rose has grown as a fighter, but her roots are still prominent.
9 The Nickname
Fans heard "Thug Rose" on repeat when commentator Daniel Cormier watched Rose, as a significant underdog, win her first UFC title against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. At a loss for words, all Cormier could exhale was the nickname of the new champion.
The nickname "Thug" was given at a young age and came from the stoic stare that she's got down pat. A great example being the staredown between Rose and Joanna at the UFC 217 weigh-ins. Rose looks as if she's able to drown out anything outside her mind and focus solely on who stands ahead of her.
8 Musically Inclined
Rose Namajunas is absolutely incredible at the piano. Rose has excelled in a number of extracurricular activities, musicianship being one of them. In order to stay busy and off the streets, Rose's mother had her daughter taking piano lessons along with practicing martial arts.
The fighters' hotel for UFC 261 just so happened to have a piano in the lobby area. Namajunes graced the building and spent some time showing off her musical gift.
7 The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned
Rose Namajunas was one of many talented fighters that took part in The Ultimate Fighter 20. Rose was riding a perfect 4-0 amateur career, this propelled her into the professional circuit. As a professional, Namajunas went 2-1 fighting for Invicta FC -- one of these wins being a flying arm bar 12 seconds into the first round.
Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez coached this very talent-stacked season. Rose was the fourth pick and set to sport the Team Melendez jersey. Namajunas used her screen time to inform the MMA world that she's a threat. Winning three fights, all by way of submission, Rose earned a spot to fight in the finals. Eventually, Thug Rose would lose to Carla Esparza, but she did more than enough to earn a spot in the UFC.
6 Pat Barry
Namajunas has a very talented and recognizable corner supporting her when she fights. Pat Barry being a part of it. Pat may look familiar, as he's a former Glory Kickboxing and UFC heavyweight fighter.
Rose and Pat met at Duke Roufus's gym in Milwaukee, where Namajunas grew up. According to Rose, Pat was after her for a little while before she was willing to settle down with him. The couple faced their ups and downs, but are now engaged.
5 Making Joe Rogan Cry
Rose Namajunas specializes in turning the broadcasting booth animated, as she's been the cause of two incredible reaction clips from the UFC commentators. Joe Rogan has seen plenty of emotional victories over his time working with the UFC and hosting the post-fight interviews, but Rose just plucks the heartstrings differently.
Once again the underdog when challenging for the Strawweight title, a scary opponent in Weili Zhang would be Namajunas' adversary at UFC 261. A quick head kick prompted the crowd to erupt and the ref to step in. With gold once again around Rose's waist, Joe entered the octagon to speak with her. The composure and poise of Rose has really been a sight to see as of late. Chanting, I'm the best, from the walkout to the fight gave onlookers chills. Rogan couldn't help but cry as he interviewed Namajunas.
4 Shaving Her Head
Namajunas is about as genuine as they come. She's in the fight game to be a fighter. Her signature shaved head look might be something fans wonder about, but there's nothing too crazy behind it.
Growing up as a tom-boy, Namajunas has stated that she didn't even know what to do with her hair when she had it grown out. The easy solution was to get rid of it, and it's been her look ever since.
3 First To Beat Joanna Jędrzejczyk
Back in 2017 at UFC 217, fans witnessed one of the greatest upsets in MMA history. Joanna Jędrzejczyk entering as the undefeated champion, riding five title defenses. Rose was the biggest underdog on the card that night. On paper, the best route to success for Rose was to take the fight down and get a submission.
What makes this upset all the wilder is the way the fight was stopped. Rose Namajunes caught Joanna with a lead hook that dropped the champion. Follow-up ground and pound had Joanna tap to strikes. Ultimately a first-round TKO victory, very few could've predicted how this match played out. This sport moves fast, making it easy to forget how dominant a champion was before they were dethroned.
2 Most Finishes at Women's Strawweight
To touch back on how well-rounded Rose Namajunes is, she gets the job done in a variety of ways. Finishes are irrefutably more exciting and add more weight to a win. To minimize any potential controversy, it's ideal to leave the judges out of things.
Namajunes' record shows her to be a prolific finisher. Five of her nine wins ending before the final horn. This caliber of competition at this weight class reduces the likelihood of getting those highlight-reel finishes, but Rose pulls through with them regardless.
1 Undefeated In Rematches
Rose has had her hand raised time and time again. Rematches, however, see her winning at a 100% rate. The downside to getting finishes will always be the criticism of the win being a fluke. Rematches do a good job at silencing those voices.
Not only has Rose come out on top in all three of her rematches, but two of them, being title fights, had her take control and win an imperative fifth round. Both the Joanna Jędrzejczyk and the Weilli Zhang rematches were far more competitive than the first time around. Rose showed her championship heart by taking the fifth round in both of these rematches.