A Physical Setback That Led to Surgery
Two-time UFC women's strawweight champion Rose Namajunas faced a significant setback after her loss to Natalia Silva at UFC 324 in January. During the fight, repeated pokes to the eye led to a serious injury that required surgical intervention. The procedure performed was canalicular tube surgery, in which a silicone tube is placed to aid in proper tear drainage. Namajunas spoke about the experience on the Weighing In podcast, describing the operation as simple but restrictive. She explained that the recovery process involved avoiding actions like blowing her nose or touching the eye, which could dislodge the tube. For three months, she had to steer clear of any contact training to ensure the injury healed properly.
With no fight currently scheduled, Namajunas is taking a step back from the Octagon to travel and reflect on her future in combat sports. She has been contemplating what motivates her to keep training and competing, especially given her current stage in life. Her three most recent fights—against Natalia Silva, Erin Blanchfield, and Manon Fiorot—each came with the promise of a title shot if she emerged victorious. However, she came up short in all three, and now finds herself at a crossroads. She is thinking about family, her future, and the deeper reasons behind her return to the cage. Namajunas admitted to struggling with whether fighting is still her priority, emphasizing the need to return only for a clear purpose.
Despite her pause, Namajunas remains determined to fight again in the future. She clarified during the podcast that her hiatus is not about walking away but rather about rediscovering her motivation. “I do want to compete and I still want to fight again,” she said. But she no longer wants to take fights simply to fulfill expectations or chase titles. Instead, she is looking for a more meaningful reason to return. Namajunas believes this clarity will give her a renewed focus when she steps back into the Octagon. Her goal is to fight with purpose, not just for the sake of fighting.