Biography(references)Rose Gertrude Namajunas is an American mixed martial artist. She is signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship , where she competes in the women's strawweight division and is the former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight Champion. As of May 9, 2022, she is #1 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings, and as of October 17, 2022, she is #5 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.
Combat ApproachNamajunas utilizes forward movement while pressuring opponents with jabs and high kicks. She is known for her advanced technical striking and footwork, using a variety of angles and several creative adjustments. After closing the distance, she will sometimes attempt to grapple and execute a submission.
Fighter Trivia(references)Prior to her first bout against Chinese fighter Zhang Weili, Namajunas spoke of the history of communist oppression in her ancestral homeland Lithuania and mentioned the documentary The Other Dream Team as an inspiration. Namajunas is the fiancée and training partner of former Glory and UFC heavyweight Pat Barry. UFC middleweight Sean Strickland has been openly critical of this relationship, describing it as predatory, given that Namajunas was allegedly 14 or 15 years old when she and Barry, who was 28, met.
Awards & Accolades
UFC: UFC Women's Strawweight Championship (Two time; Former). Two successful title defenses (overall). One successful title defense (first reign). One successful title defense (second reign)
UFC: Two successful title defenses (overall). One successful title defense (first reign). One successful title defense (second reign)
UFC: One successful title defense (first reign)
UFC: One successful title defense (second reign)
UFC: Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Paige VanZant, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, and Zhang Weili
UFC: Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Jéssica Andrade (x2)
UFC: Tied (with Jéssica Andrade for the most stoppage wins in UFC Women's Strawweight division (5)
UFC: First woman in UFC history to regain a championship title after losing it
UFC: Holds victories over three former UFC Women's Strawweight Champions - Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Jéssica Andrade, and Zhang Weili
UFC: The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned (Runner-Up). TUF 20 Fight of the Season vs. Joanne Calderwood. TUF 20 Performance of the Season vs. Joanne Calderwood
UFC: TUF 20 Fight of the Season vs. Joanne Calderwood
UFC: TUF 20 Performance of the Season vs. Joanne Calderwood
UFC: Two successful title defenses (overall). One successful title defense (first reign). One successful title defense (second reign)
UFC: One successful title defense (first reign)
UFC: One successful title defense (second reign)
UFC: One successful title defense (first reign)
UFC: One successful title defense (second reign)
UFC: TUF 20 Fight of the Season vs. Joanne Calderwood
UFC: TUF 20 Performance of the Season vs. Joanne Calderwood
Invicta FC: Submission of the Night (Two times) vs. Emily Kagan, Kathina Catron
Crypto.com: Fan Bonus of the Night vs. Carla Esparza
Fighter of the Year: 2017 MMA Fighter of the Year. ESPN, MMASucka, MMA Fighting (Top 5: #4), MMA Mania (Top 5: #4), RealSport (Top 5: #3) MMADNA
Fighter of the Year: 2017 UFC Fighter of the Year. CBS Sports (Top 5: #3)
Fighter of the Year: CBS Sports (Top 5: #3)
Fighter of the Year: 2017 MMA Female Fighter of the Year. World MMA Awards, Yahoo Sports, MMAjunkie, Cageside Press, Combat Press, SevereMMA, MMA Today (Top 50: #1), Awakening Fighters, Promoting Real Women
Fighter of the Year: World MMA Awards, Yahoo Sports, MMAjunkie, Cageside Press, Combat Press, SevereMMA, MMA Today (Top 50: #1), Awakening Fighters, Promoting Real Women
Fighter of the Year: 2021 MMA Female Fighter of the Year. World MMA Awards (July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021), Cageside Press, Combat Press
Fighter of the Year: World MMA Awards (July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021), Cageside Press, Combat Press
Fighter of the Year: 2021 Women's MMA MVP. Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Fighter of the Year: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Fighter of the Year: World MMA Awards, Yahoo Sports, MMAjunkie, Cageside Press, Combat Press, SevereMMA, MMA Today (Top 50: #1), Awakening Fighters, Promoting Real Women
Fighter of the Year: World MMA Awards (July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021), Cageside Press, Combat Press
Fighter of the Year: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Upset of the Year: 2017 MMA Upset of the Year vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk. World MMA Awards, Sports Illustrated, Sherdog, MMAjunkie, MMA Fighting, MMA Weekly, Metro.co.uk, Combat Press, Fight Booth, MMASucka, The MMA Takeover, SevereMMA, Bloody Elbow (Top 3: #1)
Upset of the Year: World MMA Awards, Sports Illustrated, Sherdog, MMAjunkie, MMA Fighting, MMA Weekly, Metro.co.uk, Combat Press, Fight Booth, MMASucka, The MMA Takeover, SevereMMA, Bloody Elbow (Top 3: #1)
Upset of the Year: 2017 UFC Upset of the Year vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Sport360, Pundit Arena, Per Sources
Upset of the Year: Sport360, Pundit Arena, Per Sources
Upset of the Year: World MMA Awards, Sports Illustrated, Sherdog, MMAjunkie, MMA Fighting, MMA Weekly, Metro.co.uk, Combat Press, Fight Booth, MMASucka, The MMA Takeover, SevereMMA, Bloody Elbow (Top 3: #1)
Upset of the Year: Sport360, Pundit Arena, Per Sources
Submission of the Year: 2013 MMA Submission of the Year vs. Kathina Catron. World MMA Awards (nominee), MMA Weekly, The MMA Corner
Submission of the Year: World MMA Awards (nominee), MMA Weekly, The MMA Corner
Submission of the Year: 2013 Women's MMA Submission of the Year vs. Kathina Catron. Bleacher Report, Bloody Elbow, WMMA Press Association, Awakening Fighters, Promoting Real Women
Submission of the Year: Bleacher Report, Bloody Elbow, WMMA Press Association, Awakening Fighters, Promoting Real Women
Submission of the Year: 2015 Women's MMA Submission of the Year vs. Paige VanZant. Awakening Fighters
Submission of the Year: Awakening Fighters
Submission of the Year: 2017 Women's MMA Submission of the Year vs. Michelle Waterson. Awakening Fighters (community)
Submission of the Year: Awakening Fighters (community)
Submission of the Year: World MMA Awards (nominee), MMA Weekly, The MMA Corner
Submission of the Year: Bleacher Report, Bloody Elbow, WMMA Press Association, Awakening Fighters, Promoting Real Women
Submission of the Year: Awakening Fighters
Submission of the Year: Awakening Fighters (community)
Knockout of the Year: 2017 Women's MMA Knockout of the Year vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Awakening Fighters (community), Promoting Real Women
Knockout of the Year: Awakening Fighters (community), Promoting Real Women
Knockout of the Year: Awakening Fighters (community), Promoting Real Women
Fight of the Year: 2013 Women's MMA Fight of the Year vs. Tecia Torres. Bleacher Report
Fight of the Year: Bleacher Report
Fight of the Year: Bleacher Report
Fight of the Month: 2019 May Fight of the Month vs. Jéssica Andrade. MMAJunkie.com
Fight of the Month: MMAJunkie.com
Fight of the Month: 2020 July Fight of the Month vs. Jéssica Andrade. MMAJunkie.com
Fight of the Month: MMAJunkie.com
Fight of the Month: MMAJunkie.com
Fight of the Month: MMAJunkie.com
Year's Most Violent: 2017 Fight Booth Lady Violence Award
Year's Most Violent: Sherdog.com's 2015 All-Violence Second Team: Strawweight
Year's Most Violent: Sherdog.com's 2017 All-Violence Second Team: Strawweight
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