Why Rose Namajunas Shaved Her Head, Explained (2024)

Rose Namajunas has been one of the UFC's most exciting female fighters. Sure, there is the Carla Esparza snoozefest from 2022's UFC 274 that saw her lose the strawweight title via a split decision. But in her days under Trevor Wittman, she had some bangers.

Namajunas beat Zhang Weilitwice, as well as Jessica Andrade, so you know she has talent. Interestingly, fans online have seen two eras of Namajunas. One with long hair and one with short hair, which would naturally have them asking why she cut her locks off. Well, it's more than just a cosmetic or athletic reason.

Rose Namajunas Was a Huge UFC Prospect

Namajunas Impressed Tremendously On The Ultimate Fighter

Namajunas began her career in Invicta FC, submitting Emily Kagan and Kathina Catron before losing to Tecia Torres. She then entered 2014's The Ultimate Fighter 20. However, she lost the strawweight final via rear-naked choke to Esparza.

That said, UFC President, Dana White, saw her potential, as a solid grappler and striker. She was good on the ground and had a great submission game. As a result, she was signed to the promotion. Namajunas won her first official bout at 2015's UFC 192 with a rear-naked choke over Angela Hill. Admittedly, fans, the press and sponsors lapped up Namajunas, who was just 23 at the time.

She had model looks, was savvy on the mic, and backed it up in the octagon. However, she changed things for her next fight versus Paige VanZant, another fighter that the majority of the public had a crush on. That time, a vast portion of MMA fans pointed out how UFC had femme fatales, which also included the recently-retired Michelle 'Karate Hottie' Waterson-Gomez. Namajunas was the one most touted to win gold, though.

Rose Namajunas Cut Her Hair For a Proper Reason

Namajunas Wanted a Change En Route to UFC Gold

Namajunas never liked the discussions about her beauty as she just wanted to be known for her talent in the UFC cage. She shaved her hair off before the VanZant fight in 2015, frustrated with the work it took to braid her hair for combat. She went bald, posting on Instagram that her long hair often got in the way at practice.

She would later tell the media it was tough to maintain. And that this helped her shed her past and accept what she felt she was: a tomboy. It was pretty simple, on the surface, but she had depth to her reasons, after all. She wanted to show girls could look mean and kick butt. Namajunas didn't look back after that. She got a win back over Torres, lost to Karolina Kowalkiewicz, but then beat Waterson-Gomez to set up a title fight.

Namajunas won strawweight gold over Joanna Jędrzejczyk via TKO (punches) in 2017's UFC 217. She defended it against Jędrzejczyk again, before losing the strap via a KO slam to Andrade at 2020's UFC 251. She beat Andrade in a rematch, took the belt back from Weili, and then defended it by beating the Chinese fighter again at UFC 261 in 2021.

As time passed, Namajunas had that iconic visual with her short hair, muttering she is "the best" in her walk-outs. And when her name was being announced before the brawls began. To say Namajunas' short hair and her signature pre-fight ritual is a staple of the modern-era UFC would be an understatement.

Rose Namajunas Wants Another Title Shot

Namajunas Is Looking to Stabilize Her Career Up a Division

Admittedly, Namajunas' career has been topsy-turvy. She has been lucky getting rematches, which is due to the division being so thin. However, the journey took a hit after losing gold to Esparza in one of the most boring MMA bouts ever. The press chided her lack of energy, spirit and motivation.

Some questioned if using her significant other, Pat Barry, as coach over Wittman was a good change, especially after Namajunas moved up to flyweight. She struggled in her debut there, losing to Manon Fiorot via decision in 2023. Namajunas seemed small for the 125-pound weight class. But she stuck with it and got a win over Amanda Ribas in 2024.

Namajunas was hoping to knock out fellow contender, Maycee Barber, but after the latter pulled out of the upcoming UFC on ESPN 59 event, Tracy Cortez stepped in. Cortez is a former Invicta alumni and undefeated in the UFC. She is 11-1, having only lost her debut, so Namajunas has her work cut out.

This is going to be a crucial test for both, because the winner could throw their name into the hat to face champ, Alexa Grasso, at the Sphere on Mexican Independence Day at UFC Noche. That is, if Valentina Shevchenko or Fiorot don't take the fight. Ultimately, "Thug Rose" has to turn in a performance like the days when she had just cut her hair to prove she is still atop the female fighting ladder.