Rose Namajunas, known to fans worldwide as “Thug Rose,” is one of MMA’s most inspiring and accomplished athletes. With a career marked by resilience, technical brilliance, and a unique personal story, she remains a defining figure in women’s mixed martial arts. Here’s a complete breakdown of her life, career, earnings, and more.
Rose Namajunas’ Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Rose Gertrude Namajunas |
| Nickname | Thug Rose |
| Born | June 29, 1992, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA |
| Age | 32 Year |
| College | Milwaukee High School of the Arts |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in |
| Turned Pro | 2013 |
| Net Worth | Estimated $2–3 million |
| Salary (Base per fight) | $100,000–$500,000 |
| Spouse | Pat Barry |
| Relationship Status | Engaged |
| Children | None |
| Instagram Profile | @rosenamajunas |
Early Career
Rose Namajunas began martial arts at age five, earning black belts in taekwondo and karate before adding Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a teenager. Growing up in a tough Milwaukee neighborhood, she found focus and discipline in fighting.
She made her pro MMA debut in 2013, quickly gaining attention for her dynamic grappling and striking. Her early rise included a notable run on The Ultimate Fighter, setting the stage for her UFC career.
Professional Career
Namajunas signed with the UFC in 2014 and soon became a force in the strawweight division. Her breakthrough came at UFC 217 in 2017, where she stunned the world by knocking out Joanna Jędrzejczyk to become champion. After defending her title in a rematch, she lost the belt to Jessica Andrade in 2019 but rebounded by defeating Andrade in a rematch.
In 2021, she regained the title with a dramatic head-kick KO of Zhang Weili and defended it in a close rematch. Transitioning to flyweight in 2023, Rose has faced elite competition, including bouts against Manon Fiorot, Amanda Ribas, Tracy Cortez, and Erin Blanchfield. Her record now stands at 13 wins and 7 losses, and she remains a top contender, aiming for a second divisional title.
Rose Namajunas’ Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Rose Namajunas’ net worth is estimated between $2 and $3 million, combining fight purses, bonuses, and endorsements.
Fight Purses
| Event/Fight | Year | Disclosed Purse |
| UFC on ESPN 69 vs. Miranda Maverick | 2025 | $500,000 |
| UFC 274 vs. Carla Esparza | 2022 | $500,000 + $30K bonus |
| UFC 268 vs. Zhang Weili | 2021 | $110,000 base + $110,000 win + $42,000 bonuses (Total: $262,000) |
| UFC 261 vs. Zhang Weili | 2021 | $150,000 base + $100,000 win + $10,000 sponsorship + $50,000 bonus (Total: $310,000) |
| UFC 223 vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk | 2018 | $40,000 outfit pay (champion) |
| UFC 217 vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk | 2017 | Not publicly disclosed |
Endorsements
Rose Namajunas maintained a selective endorsement portfolio in 2025, building on prior deals without major new announcements amid her UFC flyweight bouts.
Her longstanding individual sponsorship with Reebok, secured in 2019, continued to highlight her marketability, alongside affiliations with RVCA Sport for gym gear, Onyx Labs for gloves and shin guards, and Charlotte’s Web CBD.
Earlier campaigns like Victoria’s Secret’s 2022 “Undefinable” effort persisted in bolstering her off-octagon income, complementing high fight purses such as her $500,000 payout for defeating Miranda Maverick at UFC Atlanta in June 2025, though these endorsements provided stable supplementary revenue rather than outsizing her UFC earnings.
Speculative mentions of Monster Energy or crypto sponsors appeared in lifestyle overviews but lacked confirmed 2025 activity, keeping her brand alignments focused on fitness, apparel, and wellness.
Career Records
| Opponent | Date | Result | Method | Event/Location |
| Erin Blanchfield | Nov 2, 2024 | Loss | Unanimous Decision | UFC Fight Night, Edmonton |
| Tracy Cortez | Jul 13, 2024 | Win | Unanimous Decision | UFC Fight Night, Denver |
| Amanda Ribas | Mar 23, 2024 | Win | Unanimous Decision | UFC Fight Night, Las Vegas |
| Manon Fiorot | Sep 2, 2023 | Loss | Unanimous Decision | UFC Fight Night, Paris |
| Carla Esparza | May 7, 2022 | Loss | Split Decision | UFC 274, Phoenix |
| Zhang Weili | Nov 6, 2021 | Win | Split Decision | UFC 268, New York |
| Zhang Weili | Apr 24, 2021 | Win | KO (Head Kick) | UFC 261, Jacksonville |
| Jessica Andrade | Jul 11, 2020 | Win | Split Decision | UFC 251, Abu Dhabi |
| Jessica Andrade | May 11, 2019 | Loss | KO (Slam) | UFC 237, Rio de Janeiro |
| Joanna Jędrzejczyk | Apr 7, 2018 | Win | Unanimous Decision | UFC 223, Brooklyn |
| Joanna Jędrzejczyk | Nov 4, 2017 | Win | KO/TKO | UFC 217, New York |
| Michelle Waterson | Apr 15, 2017 | Win | Submission | UFC on FOX, Kansas City |
| Karolina Kowalkiewicz | Jul 30, 2016 | Loss | Split Decision | UFC 201, Atlanta |
| Tecia Torres | Apr 16, 2016 | Win | Unanimous Decision | UFC on FOX, Tampa |
| Paige VanZant | Dec 10, 2015 | Win | Submission | UFC Fight Night, Las Vegas |
| Angela Hill | Oct 3, 2015 | Win | Submission | UFC 192, Houston |
| Carla Esparza | Dec 12, 2014 | Loss | Submission | TUF 20 Finale, Las Vegas |
FAQs
1. Who is Rose Namajunas?
Rose Namajunas, nicknamed “Thug Rose,” is a former two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born June 29, 1992, she trains in karate and taekwondo with an orthodox stance, standing 5’5″ tall with a 65-inch reach.
2. What is her MMA record as of late 2025?
Namajunas holds a professional record of 15-7-0 entering 2026, with 5 KOs, 5 submissions, and 5 decisions in wins. In the UFC, she is 13-7, excelling in striking at 3.50 significant strikes landed per minute with 41% accuracy.
3. What fights did she have in 2025?
She won unanimously against Miranda Maverick on June 14 at UFC on ESPN 69 (UFC Atlanta), scoring 30-27 across judges after three rounds of striking exchanges. This flyweight victory followed her 2024 losses and boosted her momentum.
4. Why did she move to flyweight?
Namajunas shifted from strawweight (115 lbs) to flyweight (125 lbs) in 2023 to avoid harsh weight cuts and chase new challenges, including a potential second-division title. She has no plans to return to strawweight, targeting flyweight dominance.
5. What was her flyweight performance in 2025?
Her sole 2025 flyweight bout was the unanimous decision win over Maverick, where she outstruck her opponent 118-86 with superior volume and defense. This improved her flyweight record to 3-3 overall.
6. Who are her biggest career wins?
Key victories include two over Joanna Jedrzejczyk (KO in 2017, decision in 2018 for strawweight title), head-kick KO of Zhang Weili (2021 title regain), and submissions against Michelle Waterson and Paige VanZant. These earned Performance of the Night bonuses.
7. What happened in her most recent fight before 2026?
On January 24, 2026, at UFC 324, she lost a close unanimous decision (29-28 x3) to undefeated Natalia Silva after controlling positions but falling short on judges’ scorecards. It was a title eliminator bout.
8. Is she aiming for the flyweight title?
Yes, a win over Silva would have positioned her for a shot at champion Valentina Shevchenko, making her the second woman to win UFC titles in two divisions. She remains ranked around #4-7 in flyweight.
9. What are her fighting stats?
Namajunas lands 3.50 significant strikes per minute (41% accuracy), absorbs 3.38 (63% defense), averages 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes (50% accuracy), and has strong grappling with multiple submission wins.
10. What is her next fight after 2025?
No opponent is announced post her January 2026 loss to Silva, but she is expected to face another top flyweight contender soon to climb rankings. Updates are pending UFC matchmaking.