Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas shared her thoughts on the evolving landscape of combat sports during a recent press conference in Edmonton. While discussing rule changes in MMA, Namajunas touched on some of the more unconventional MMA formats that have emerged lately.
“There’s so many different types of fighting now and there’s just so many different like…it’s just crazy what’s going on in the world of combat sports in general,” Namajunas remarked.
When pressed for specifics, she mentioned some particularly unusual examples that have caught her attention. “I saw something where they were like taping their hands together on a table and then they had like a belt tied to the table and they were just fighting like that,” she described, likely referring to the niche sport of arm boxing.
However, it was the concept of “Medieval MMA” that seemed to especially amuse Namajunas. She explained it as fighters “dressed in like knights’ armor and just hitting each other with weapons.” The idea sparked memories of her own experience with stick combat earlier in her martial arts journey.
“That was actually really fun and a really good workout,” Namajunas recalled of stick fighting. “I’ve always kind of teased the idea of incorporating that into my training because it’s just such great cardio.”
While Namajunas found humor in these unconventional styles, she also acknowledged their potential appeal. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you see some stick fighting championship at some point,” she mused.
Rose Namajunas Embraces Lithuanian Roots Ahead of UFC Edmonton
“I just really love Lithuania. I want to be there, I miss them,” Namajunas stated passionately. “It would be my dream to one day fight in Lithuania.” While acknowledging the logistical challenges of staging a UFC event there, she remained optimistic, adding, “I don’t know how possible that is, but I know it’s possible. Anything’s possible.”
Despite being born in the United States, Namajunas emphasized her deep Lithuanian roots. “I speak Lithuanian fluently,” she explained. “I was born and raised, and my grandmother raised me. I’m very much Lithuanian in my heart.”
The former champ’s connection to her heritage was recently highlighted in a social media post featuring her championship titles displayed on the Lithuanian flag.
