Rose Namajunas

Rose Gertrude Namajunas, known throughout her career as "Thug Rose," is an American mixed martial artist who has competed in the UFC's women's strawweight and flyweight divisions.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Namajunas began training in martial arts as a child, earning black belts in Taekwondo and Karate before transitioning into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai as she moved toward MMA. She first gained national attention as a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter Season 20, the show that crowned the UFC's inaugural women's strawweight champion. Early in her career she trained out of Roufusport under Duke Roufus in Milwaukee before relocating to Denver, Colorado, where she built her championship-era game alongside coach Trevor Wittman at Elevation Fight Team.

Namajunas holds legitimate credentials across multiple disciplines, including a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt earned under longtime instructor Tony Basile, and has earned numerous UFC Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses over the course of her career.

Inside the cage, Namajunas is known for elusive, technical striking built around head movement, footwork, and sharp counters that allow her to close distance safely against powerful strikers. She blends this striking base with a functional grappling and submission game, giving her finishing ability from multiple positions rather than a single dominant tool.

Namajunas's signature career highlight came at UFC 217, where she stunned previously unbeaten champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Stats last updated: August 18, 2026