Rose Namajunas is not ready to walk away from mixed martial arts, but the former UFC champion admits she is taking time to figure out what comes next before committing to another fight.
The two-time strawweight titleholder has been sidelined since her loss to Natalia Silva at UFC 324. The setback was made even tougher by a serious eye injury that required surgery shortly after the bout.
Recovery Took Months After UFC 324
Speaking on the Weighing In podcast, Namajunas detailed the lengthy recovery process that followed the fight.
“Right after the fight, I had to get this surgery right away. They put this weird silicone tube in my eye, and I have no idea how they did that.”
The procedure involved a canalicular tube being implanted to repair the damage caused by the eye poke. While the surgery itself was not difficult, the recovery came with several restrictions.
“… It was a really easy surgery, though. It was just kind of uncomfortable. I couldn’t blow my nose. I couldn’t rub my eye or something because (it) could pop out, so I had no contact training for three months. Then I had my thumb – I tore my UCL in my thumb.”
The injuries kept Namajunas out of full training for an extended period. She was eventually cleared to resume training in April.
Searching for a New Purpose
Although she has returned to training, Namajunas has not rushed to book her next fight. The 34-year-old said recent losses have forced her to reevaluate her goals inside the UFC.
“That’s why I’ve been sitting out for a while because I’m trying to rediscover, OK, what am I doing now?”
Her defeats to Natalia Silva, Erin Blanchfield, and Manon Fiorot were all presented as major opportunities. According to Namajunas, victories in those matchups were expected to put her in line for a title shot.
“To just be fairly transparent, the last three opportunities that I had, or the last three losses that I had – … I was told that I would get a title shot with a win with that fight.”
“And same thing with the Manon fight. I needed to win that fight in order to get the title shot.”
Family and Future Now Part of the Equation
As she looks ahead, Namajunas says her decision-making process is no longer centered solely on chasing championships. Personal goals and life outside the cage now play a bigger role.
“I’m at a point in my life where I’m thinking about family stuff and all these things, and next steps, future things.”
“I still want to fight again, but I want to make sure that when I’m going in there, I’m going for a purpose and a reason.”
For now, Namajunas remains committed to fighting again. The challenge is finding the motivation that makes another UFC run worth pursuing.