Issue 124

January 2015

Rose Namajunas stood out on the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, but what’s really driving the five-foot-five strawweight to take on the world?

Now that Rose Namajunas is a fully-fledged reality TV star and UFC fighter it’s time to make sure you’re pronouncing her name correctly. The ‘j’ is actually silent, although Rose takes all the random pronunciations of her surname in her stride: “I actually look forward to hearing all the various pronunciations of my name,” she says. “It’s Namajunas, so the ‘j’ is silent. Just act like it’s not even there. I’m used to it by now.” If you didn’t know already, now you do.

‘Thug’ Rose’s new-found fame and crossover appeal is due in no small part to her stint on the all-women’s season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter. She gained some pretty famous fans along the way and received some high praise from the face of women’s MMA, Ronda Rousey. The bantamweight champion singled the up-and-coming strawweight out as being next in line for superstardom in women’s MMA. 

Rousey, who would know, described her as “the total package.” Namajunas admits she was flattered. “It’s really exciting. She’s someone I look up to so to hear that from her is inspiring. I know what I am capable of. It’s just now everyone else is getting to see it. I don’t like to talk about myself too much. I like when my accomplishments speak for themselves and it seems like that’s happening now.”

Just like Rousey and Gina Carano before her, Namajunas is excited about also making the transition from the fight game to the entertainment world someday: “I think that would be great,” says the 22-year-old. “I did some modeling as a teenager, which wasn’t that long ago, and I always enjoyed it. 

“I went to a performing arts school. We all had to major in some type of art and I was a music major. I had friends in drama and visual arts. Any type of expression I’m into and acting could be thrown in there, too.”

The general public may be late to the Namajunas bandwagon, but those who knew her growing up saw she was an outstanding athlete and a star from a young age. Beginning taekwondo in Milwaukee at five years old, she earned her black belt by the age of nine before moving on to karate and jiu-jitsu, though she wasn’t limited to martial arts. Her early prowess in several sports provided her with options for an athletic career. 

“I had potential in pretty much everything,” she says. “I accomplished a lot in track and cross country. My fastest mile was 5:30. I broke 15 minutes for a 2.5 mile run. But I also love basketball, even to this day. I wish I’d had even more time over the years to dedicate to the court.”  

Like any true fighter, however, her heart belonged to combat sports and that’s where she would ultimately hang her hat: “Fighting was always number one,” says Namajunas. “It was something that always stood out for me and something I always excelled at. I have more respect for fighting and wrestling than I do for other sports. 

“I feel like they are the toughest of all sports. Nothing comes close to how real fighting can be. It’s so primal and so close to our natural state of being compared to other sports. It’s the ultimate competition. If you watch other sports and there’s an altercation a fight breaks out. That shows how much our sport makes its way into other sports and everyday life. It’s cool that fighting can do that.” 

It wasn’t all roses for Namajunas growing up. As she emotionally exposed on TUF 20, she overcame a great deal of adversity to make it to where she is today. It might be an overused cliché, but combat sports saved her life. She grew up around abuse in a drug-riddled community and it was only the wrestling mats and boxing ring that kept her safe.

Rose’s biggest fan is someone the MMA community knows well. Her fiancé, Pat Barry, is known for an action-packed MMA and kickboxing career. The two lovebirds had a very MMA first meeting: “I never really spoke to everybody in the gym,” Rose reveals. “I kept to myself and was all business. For anyone to break through that barrier is an accomplishment in itself. 

“Prior to our first sparring session we had never really talked at all. When we first sparred I didn’t hold anything back. I punched him straight in the face and he was pretty impressed. Ever since then we clicked.” 

They say the best way to get to know someone is to fight them. Rose agrees: “It’s pretty good couples therapy, too! You duke it out and forget what you were angry about beforehand. Obviously there’s no maliciousness involved, but a little competition is good for you. 

“I would say our relationship is special because I wouldn’t suggest couples coach or corner each other for fights. That’s not for everybody. You see couples in the gym and the guy is coaching the girl and she’s not having it. Guys, don’t try to coach your chick. It’s not gonna work!”

Namajunas is renowned for her creative style of fighting. When asked about her inspirations in the development of that style FO uncovered a surprising answer.

 “This is gonna sound crazy but I grew up watching Dragon Ball Z,” she says. “That got me into the whole mentality behind my fighting style. 

“I watch and try to mimic any fighter I like or anybody with an exciting, finishing style. Pat is exciting and I’ve learned so much and mimicked a lot of his style and technique. As far as my mentality and philosophy, I’ve learned a lot from watching Dragon Ball Z, believe it or not. That’s my base. There’s a lot of cool information you can learn about fighting in that cartoon.”

Although Namajunas’ adventures in combat sports may not find her needing to defend Earth against an assortment of intergalactic space conquerors or powerful androids any time soon, her future conquests in the UFC could lead to the birth of a new MMA superhero. Watch this space.