Rose Namajunas got a big reality check at the start of her MMA career. ‘Thug’ was just 22 years old when she went on an incredible three-fight submission streak to earn a spot in The Ultimate Fighter season 20 finale. The long-running MMA reality TV show sees selected combatants live in a house together for several weeks as they face off in a bid to win a UFC contract.
Namajunas' series was a bit different as she and her housemates were competing for the chance to become the UFC's inaugural strawweight champion. Carla Esparza also picked up three wins and secured her place in the final, but all the talk ahead of their title fight in December 2014 was about Namajunas. Excited MMA fans compared the blonde submission specialist to Ronda Rousey , who had revolutionised the sport and became a global superstar a couple of years earlier.
Namajunas has since admitted that the praise got to her head. “I didn’t really care about Carla,” she said in December 2022. “You know, I didn’t think she was on my level.
“Being called the next Ronda Rousey, you don’t think anybody is on your level.” On fight night, Namajunas found out Esparza was actually a level above her. ‘Cookie Monster’ out grappled her from the first bell and ultimately scored a third-round submission win to become the UFC’s first 115lb titleholder.
Namajunas took the devastating defeat in stride and quickly became one of Dana White ’s hottest prospects after penning a deal with MMA’s premier pro.
