Athletes
Rose Namajunas Career Highlights
Learn More About “Thug” Rose Namajunas’ Career Highlights And Her Journey To Becoming A 2-Time UFC Champion
"Thug” Rose Namajunas has had an electric career in the Octagon. From competing on The Ultimate Fighter to becoming a two-time strawweight champion, it's always exciting when Namajunas is in a fight.
Learn more about Namajunas’ career highlights, UFC record and standout fights that led her to this point.
Rose Namajunas | Grateful to Achieve Greatness
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Rose Namajunas | Grateful to Achieve Greatness
/
- Namajunas made her UFC debut on December 12, 2014, where she faced Carla Esparza at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned finale card.
- The Milwaukee native was a contestant on the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2014.
- Throughout her career, Namajunas has six post-fight bonuses – three Performance of the Night and three Fight of the Night.
- “Thug” is tied for the most finishes in the UFC strawweight decision with five.
- Namajunas is a two-time strawweight champion. She first obtained the belt in November 2017 with a win over Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Her second reign started when she defeated Zhang Weili at UFC 261 in April 2021.
Rose Namajunas Fight Highlights
UFC 217 - Rose Namajunas vs Joanna Jędrzejczyk (November 4, 2017)
Watch on UFC Fight Pass
The shock that came from Namajunas’ dominant win over Joanna Jędrzejczyk can’t be overstated. At the time, Jędrzejczyk was more or less untouchable, but Namajunas showed off her smooth striking and rocked the champion several times before earning the finish three minutes into the first frame.
UFC 251 – Rose Namajunas vs Jéssica Andrade 2 (July 12, 2020)
Watch on UFC Fight Pass
Namajunas was well on her way to a second successful title defense against Jéssica Andrade until an epic slam ended her first title reign. In the rematch on Fight Island at UFC 251, Namajunas returned looking as sharp and confident as ever, piecing up the Brazilian in a Fight of the Night effort between the two former champions. In the end, and despite a swollen eye, Namajunas earned the split decision nod.
UFC 261 – Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili (April 24, 2021)
Watch on UFC Fight Pass
After Zhang defended her title in historic fashion against Jędrzejczyk in 2020’s Fight of the Year effort at UFC 248, a matchup with Namajunas was inevitable. The two squared off in UFC’s first event with fans back since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was over before things really heated up, though, as Namajunas connected with a flush head kick a little more than a minute into the fight that provided yet another emotionally charged milestone for Namajunas.
Rose Namajunas’ UFC Record
UFC on ESPN (3/23/24) Namajunas won a five round unanimous decision over Amanda Ribas
UFC Fight Night (9/2/23) Namajunas lost a three round unanimous decision to to Manon Fiorot
UFC 274 (5/7/22) Namajunas lost a five round split decision to Carla Esparza, losing her UFC strawweight title
UFC 268 (11/6/21) Namajunas won a five round split decision over Zhang Weili to retain the UFC strawweight title
UFC 261 (4/24/21) Namajunas knocked out Zhang Weili at 1:18 of the first round to regain the UFC 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
Rapid Fire Q&A
What is Rose Namajunas’ record?
- 13-6
What is Rose Namajunas’ age?
- 32 years old
How tall is Rose Namajunas?
- 5’5”
What is Rose Namajunas’ reach?
- 65 in
Where is Rose Namajunas from?
- Rose Namajunas was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but fights out of Denver, Colorado.
What weight class is Rose Namajunas in?
- Rose Namajunas fought as a strawweight, but she is now competing in the flyweight division.
How many fights does Rose Namajunas have in his career?
- Rose Namajunas has 18 professional fights in her MMA career. Her professional career started in 2013.
UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs Cortez took place live from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on July 13, 2024. See the Final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
