Sundays Strolls: Episode Two
Fight or Flight for Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas
Words: Kyra Sacdalan
Photos: Justin W. Coffey
It’s hard to imagine a professional fighter, let alone a two-time champion like Rose Namajunas, being afraid of anything. Growing up on a rougher side of Milwaukee, WI, “Thug Rose” – as she was aptly dubbed for her reputation as a take-no-shit attitude – is a first generation immigrant whose parents moved to the States from Lithuania just a year before she was born.
Exposed to violence and hardships at a young age, Namajunas developed a thick skin (and an iron fist) in order to survive. And it’s these circumstances which landed her center ring. Dominating the Women’s Strawweight division before she was 30 years old, Rose has likely faced a lot of her fears. But when you’re in total control of your fate, and every aspect of your life, it can be hard for anyone, even her, to sit in the passenger seat.
Polaris RZR invited Rose and three other elite athletes to step outside of their comfort zone and try a new extreme sport, if only for an afternoon. We caught up with Rose at the set of Sunday Strolls to have a candid Campfire Chat as she prepped for her laps around LACR MX track in a mostly stock Polaris RZR Pro R captained by resident hooligan, RJ Anderson. (Don’t try this at home kids.) His mission: scare the hell out of anyone who dared sit shotgun in his high-performance side-by-side, myself included. Did he succeed? Well, only Rose could tell us how it went.
We caught up with Rose while she was seated in the Pro R for a quick chat, then followed up with a fuller Q&A after her laps around the track.
UTV Sports: Prior to this event, what did you know about UTVs (also known as a side-by-side)?
Rose Namajunas: I know that they’re awesome! They look cool as shit. Fast, agile, and can get big air!
USM: Have you spent much time driving or riding off-road?
RN: A pinch…
USM: Do you know much about RJ Anderson? Does he seem intimidating?
RN: [My husband] Pat will let me know if he’s intimidating [once he sizes him up a bit].
USM: Do you consider yourself pretty fearless? Or, at least, does it take a lot to make you nervous or uncomfortable?
RN: No. I’m afraid every day!
USM: These days, that’s not too hard, come to think of it. All joking aside, what would you say is your worst fear?
RN: Getting kidnapped. Being locked up. Listening to Drake’s new album. Losing my soul.
USM: Seems fair… Do you enjoy a little bit of fear at times? Well maybe not hearing Drake’s EP, but anything else?
RN: I’m an adrenaline Junkie, but no. I hate fear. [To clarify,] I like facing my fears but don’t look for them.
USM: What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone in a four-wheeled vehicle?
RN: I’ve been in a car that’s almost hit 100mph once.
USM: Well, you may not break a hundred today, but no doubt RJ will get your blood pumping! In the meantime, let’s learn a bit more about you.
Rose is a strong name (I should know, my mother is also a Rose). When you were growing up in a tough neighborhood in Milwaukee, was there someone in your life who taught you the value of a stiff upper lip?
RN: There wasn’t just one person who taught me how to be tough. I think just the daily experiences I had were what forced me to toughen up. Kids at school, family, friends, dangers in the neighborhood… All had my senses heightened.
USM: Trained in Lithuania, your mother was a pianist, which takes a lot of discipline. The same can be said about mixed martial arts and professional fighting. Considering you have two championships under your belt, four TKOs (two amateur, two pro) and you’re a contender for first again, did your mom’s work ethic have an affect on you and your successes?
RN: Yes, my mother was always working, and it definitely rubbed off on me. She came to America with nothing but was always determined to achieve the “American dream”. I also realized, as I grew older, Midwesterners are typically hard working people as well, so being surrounded by a culture of hard workers helped me do the same.
USM: Sure, many people have fought in the UFC, and even won, but it is in no way easy to become successful. Were you ever apprehensive about choosing this path or have you always been confident about what you wanted to do?
RN: I was always aware that this line of work is risky, but I was confident in my abilities to make the most out of opportunities. And there was something inside of me which believed more opportunities would be available. Besides, if it didn’t pan out, I could always go get a regular job or go back to school. Some apprehension would pop up along the journey, but somehow I was always able to keep pushing forward.
USM: In 2016 you were up against Tecia Torres for a rematch of your 2013 fight, where you ultimately won by unanimous decision. At the time, she could arguably be considered your professional nemesis – coming to the scene at the same time, with similar promise, and being the only fighter to seemingly keep you on your toes.
You were the underdog of that match… Did you feel any nerves coming into this fight?
RN: When I had the rematch with Tecia Torres, I definitely was very nervous for that fight. It was my first rematch, and I always had a thing from my childhood of making the same mistake twice. I’m glad I overcame that obstacle!
USM: Okay, what sounds worse, rolling in a UTV or getting the crap kicked out of you?
RN: I am more afraid of crashing in a UTV, although they both can be equally terrible.
USM: So, what are your thoughts about UTVs now that you’ve gone out with RJ?
RN: Oh man, it’s basically like a rollercoaster times a hundred! This is phenomenal. It’s a really good way to unwind… Not for most people, maybe. But for me, because my profession can be so intense, it’s a great way to unwind, have some fun and enjoy the outdoors a bit.
USM: Did this experience make you want to get behind the wheel yourself?
RN: I do! That sounds amazing. I don’t know if I’m going to be doing what he’s [RJ] doing, but [driving my own RZR] would be pretty cool.
Check out Rose’s experience in the full Second Episode of Sunday Strolls below!
