Rose Namajunas

Instead of indulging in the local cheeses of her native Wisconsin, Rose Namajunas directed her youthful energy toward kickboxing and mixed martial arts. She began training with kickboxing coach Duke Rufus at 16, setting the stage for her future sports career.

Namajunas kickstarted her professional fighting career with a victory over Emily Kagan at Invicta FC 4 2013. Her performances in Invicta caught the UFC's attention, leading to her signing for The Ultimate Fighter. In 2017, she defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk to claim the Strawweight title.

Advertisement