Rose Namajunas

Fighter Facts

• First female UFC fighter in history to reclaim championship title
   
• Team Melendez on TUF 20
   
• Had 4-0 amateur record with two knockouts
   
• Pro since 2013
   
• Has won eight of her last ten
   
• Six wins by submission (4 RNC, flying armbar, Kimura), two by knockout
   
• Five first round finishes
   
• Flying armbar win over Kathina Catron in April of 2013 took just 12 seconds
   
• Pro debut was win over Emily Kagan
   
• Lone pre-UFC loss was via decision to Tecia Torres in July of 2013
   
• Fiancé is UFC vet Pat Barry

UFC History

UFC 261 (4/24/21) Namajunas knocked out Zhang Weili at 1:18 of the first round to reclaim the UFC women's strawweight title
UFC 251 (7/12/20) Namajunas won a three round split decision over Jessica Andrade
UFC 237 (5/11/19) Namajunas was knocked out by Jessica Andrade at 2:58 of the second round, losing her UFC women’s strawweight title
UFC 223 (4/7/18) Namajunas won a five round unanimous decision over Joanna Jedrzejczyk to retain the UFC women’s strawweight title
UFC 217 (11/4/17) Namajunas stopped Joanna Jedrzejczyk via strikes at 3:03 of the first round to win the UFC women’s strawweight title
UFC on FOX (4/15/17) Namajunas submitted Michelle Waterson via rear naked choke at 2:47 of the second round
UFC 201 (7/30/16) Namajunas lost a three round split decision to Karolina Kowalkiewicz
UFC on FOX (4/16/16) Namajunas won a three round unanimous decision over Tecia Torres
UFC Fight Night (12/10/15) Namajunas submitted Paige VanZant via rear naked choke at 2:25 of the fifth round
UFC 192 (10/3/15) Namajunas submitted Angela Hill via rear naked choke at 2:47 of the first round
TUF 20 Finale (12/12/14) Namajunas was submitted by Carla Esparza via rear naked choke at 1:26 of the third round in a UFC strawweight title fight

The Ultimate Fighter, Season 20
On episode 12 (Semifinals) Namajunas submitted Randa Markos via Kimura at 2:45 of round one
On episode 11 (Quarterfinals), Namajunas submitted Joanne Calderwood via Kimura in round two
On episode seven, Namajunas submitted Alex Chambers via rear naked choke at 4:38 of the first round

Q&A

When and why did you start training for fighting?  Martial arts has been a part of my life since I was five. I thought I'd might as well make a living doing something I love. 
What ranks and titles have you held? UFC women’s strawweight champion, Black belt in karate and taekwondo, brown belt in jiu-jitsu and some medals at jiu-jitsu tournaments. 
Do you have any heroes? My mom and my grandmothers 
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? An opportunity of a lifetime. 
What was your job before you started fighting? I worked at Gillies Frozen Custard in high school 
Specific accomplishments in pro competition? Two Submission of the Night awards, one of them being a 12-second flying armbar that was Submission of the Year. 
Favorite grappling technique: Any submissions 
Favorite Striking technique: Left hook