New champ Rose Namajunas 'sick of all the hate' in MMA, vows to set good example after UFC 217

NEW YORK – Newly minted UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas did her best to deflect the trash talk coming from Joanna Jedrzejczyk prior to their showdown at UFC 217, but Jedrzejczyk made it tough.

In the end, Namajunas (7-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) wound up silencing Jedrzejczyk (14-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) with her fists on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Now she wants to use her platform as UFC champion to help restore order ini MMA and be a better role model for the world.

“There’s just been a lot of trash talking,” Namajunas said after her title-winning stoppage. “People aren’t really being true to themselves or honest. Maybe that’s just what they feel they need to do to entertain, but I’m kind of sick of it. I’m sick of all the hate and anger. I feel like we have a duty as fighters to try and be a better example, you know.

“Martial arts is about honor and respect. It takes a lot of courage to get in that cage no matter who you are. I just want to try and set an example in that way.”

Prior to the event, Namajunas said she was fighting to encourage mental health awareness, an issue that’s dear to her heart. The meeting with Jedrzejczyk brought into focus her family’s history of mental illness and a tumultuous childhood, in part because the now former champion called her out on it.

At several points, Jedrzejczyk bullied Namajunas with her words and twice put her fist on Namajunas’ face as the two stared each other down at press conferences. Namajunas stayed almost completely calm and expressionless each time. When they faced off at the ceremonial weigh-ins, Namajunas recited the Lord’s prayer.

She refused to engage. Her talk, she did in the cage.

With the belt now around her waist, Namajunas wants to encourage others to not give in to anger and to take the positive road in life. Although she fights in a cage for a living, she said martial arts practice has the ability to bring light into the world.

“Just with the rest of the world, I think there’s a lot of negativity everywhere you look,” Namajunas said. “It’s just negativity all the time. I’m just trying to be that positive light as much as possible. I’m not perfect, either. But maybe we’ll figure out how to make this world a better place.”

For complete coverage of UFC 217, check out the UFC Events section of the site.