Carrying the weight of expectation can be a difficult task for any fighter, and Rose Namajunas' experience with hype and the spotlight wasn't a pleasant one.
The 23-year-old Wisconsin native rocketed to the forefront of the emerging women's strawweight division under the UFC banner on the strength of three-straight submission finishes, which earned her a place in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 tournament.
With each consecutive victory, the buzz surrounding Thug Rose amplified, and her bout against Carla Esparza for the inaugural women's 115-pound title seemed to be the perfect setting for her ascension into stardom.
The only thing she had to do was put Esparza away and continue her streak of impressive victories, but that's not how the fight would play out.
The Cookie Monster dominated the fight from the opening bell, as her wrestling and forward pressure proved too much for the Grudge Training Center representative to handle. She would eventually succumb to a rear-naked choke in the third round of the bout, and a new strawweight champion was crowned.
Her loss in the TUF 20 Finale was undoubtedly frustrating, but Namajunas was eager to get back into the Octagon and put herself back into the win column. The next opportunity to do so was supposed to come against Nina Ansaroff at UFC 187 back in May, but after coming in four pounds over the weight limit at the official weigh-ins, Ansaroff pulled out of the fight hours before they were set to hit the cage on fight night.
For Namajunas, that turn of events was difficult to handle in the short term, but the experience in the long term is something she believes she can learn from. And for a fighter in the midst of the early stages of her career, it's experience of all varieties that matters most to her.
Namajunas told Bleacher Report:
It was really weird for me especially since I had never felt so ready for a fight in my life. To have it pulled was pretty devastating, whereas other fights you might go through some times where you aren't so confident and wouldn't mind if that fight got cancelled. I was frustrated for awhile afterwards, but I'm better now. I've had enough time to really think it over and realize the benefits of that experience. All of those things go into my growth and maturity, and that's positive.
Whether people are watching or not I'm always motivated. I've been that way my entire life. Being a fighter now and having people know who I am doesn't make that any different. Obviously it's a little embarrassing to lose when there are a lot of people watching, but at the other end you are doing it because you love it.
While there is nothing officially locked down for her next bout inside the Octagon, Namajunas' process to make progress hasn't halted in the slightest. She's continued to work diligently inside the gym and sharpen an already dangerous and versatile skill set to ensure she will be absolutely prepared when the next challenge materializes. That said, growth in areas beyond the physical is also a primary focus for Namajunas as well.
Even though she is still in the early stages of her professional career, competing at the highest level of the sport has allowed her to gain ground in the experience department.
While Namajunas admits she's naturally tenacious towards the goals she sets out to accomplish, there is also something to be found in taking her foot off the gas pedal from time to time and soaking in those things learned along the way.
"Youth is a great advantage to have in this game, but I definitely have to slow myself down from time to time," Namajunas said. "I find myself worrying about sh** that really doesn't matter. When I do that, I really have to slow myself down because I naturally put too much pressure on myself. I'm kind of a control freak, and I'm a perfectionist as well so I've learned to pull it back. I also have a great support system and good people around me that help.
"There is also a great advantage that comes with having time in. I'm trying to take every experience and use it to my fullest ability."
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
