The Story Behind Rose Namajunas and Her Fiance Pat Barry (2024)

Rose Namajunas is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Namajunas rose to stardom after she defeated Joanna Jędrzejczyk to win the UFC’s Strawweight Championship back at UFC 217.

However, it was the rematch against the Polish fighter that brought her global stardom. Needless to say, her vicious KO win over Zhang Weili at UFC 261 further plummeted her growth, bringing her on the cusp of global stardom.

Namajunas is one of the most accomplished fighters in the UFC right now, with notable wins over the likes of Zhang Weili, Jessica Andrade, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Angela Hill, Paige VanZant, and Michelle Waterson.

Rose Namajunas is the only fighter to secure a stoppage win over Zhang Weili, becoming the first fighter to hand a loss to the Chinese fighter in the UFC Octagon with a vicious head kick KO win to grab the UFC’s strawweight champion. In the process, Namajunas snapped Zhang’s 21-fight winning streak and became a two-time UFC strawweight champion.

Childhood of Rose Namajunas and her friendship with Justin Gaethje

Rose was born to Lithuanian parents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She earned the name “Rose” in the memory of her great grand-mother Rožė Gotšalkaitė Namajūnienė. The two-time strawweight champion did not have what you would call a normal childhood. Her great grandfather was a military officer and he was killed by the Soviets in his home country of Lithuania.

It can be believed Rose’s views on Zhang Weili before UFC 261 were partly due to her family’s life under the communist regime. Namajunas’s father suffered from schizophrenia, eventually leading to a rough childhood for Rose Namajunas.

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Namajunas started training at the tender age of 5. She got her poom belt or the junior black belt at age 9, and later switched to Jiu-Jitsu. She was also a wrestler during her high-school years and started learning kickboxing and mixed martial arts soon after.

How did Rose Namajunas meet Pat Barry?

Thug Rose and Pat Barry are the power couples of the UFC.Hype or DiePat Barry has known Rose Namajunas since her teen years. In an interview back in 2012 at the World MMA Awards, Barry shared how he has known Rose for a couple of years. At the time, Rose was 21.

Rose recalls how she met Pat Barry. Soon after her high school, Rose joined Rofussports to practice mixed martial arts. It was there that she met her fiance Pat Barry. Barry and Rose knew each other, at the time Rose must have been below 18 years of age when she joined the gym. In a 2012 article about their relationship, Barry exclaims how he feels he has been dating Rose Namajunas for almost five years now.

According to Barry, Rose punched her on his face one day while he was training at Rofussports. Rose appeared out of nowhere and punched him on the side of his face and asked him if he really was Pat Barry. When the former UFC fighter approved, Rose exclaimed, “you should have seen that coming.”

Barry was present alongside Rose Namajunas as always, reminding her “she was the best” after her emphatic win over Zhang Weili in the co-main event of UFC 261. Needless to say, the sky is the limit for Thug Rose. Recently, Hollywood artist Lil Wayne also teased a song dedicated to two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.

What is the age difference between Rose Namajunas and Pat Barry?

Rose Namajunas is currently 29 years old. Meanwhile, Pat Barry is elder to her by 13 years. He is currently 42 years old. Rose met Barry when she was really young. When Rose was 18, Barry was 31 and needless to say, it was right around that time that both the fighters met each other.

For Barry, it was love at first sight, however, it took some time for the “cold” Rose to give her heart to the UFC fighter.

Also Read: Joe Rogan Breaks His Own Rule Again During the Interview With Zhang Weili and Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261

Rose and Pat have been dating for that a decade now. They are engaged and are yet to be married. It won’t be wrong to say that they might be planning on a wedding after hopefully winning that UFC’s strawweight championship against Zhang Weili at UFC 261.

Who is Pat Barry?

Pat Barry is a former mixed martial artist who made a name for himself owing to his explosive striking game and his lethal low calf-kicks. Barry worked with Trevor Wittman, and currently acts as Namajunas’ coach. Barry made his UFC debut back in 2008 and remained with the company till his retirement in 2013.

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Pat Barry was also a professional kickboxer, taking part in several kickboxing championships. He amassed an incredible record of 17-6 during his career as a kickboxer. Barry considers Mike Tyson as one of his biggest inspirations.

While Rose started training very early in her career, Barry got into mixed martial arts later in life. He would be mostly on the move due to the nature of his parents’ work, however, Barry settled in New Orleans with his family. It was here that he started learning mixed martial arts.

Do Thug Rose and Pat Barry have children?

The Strawweight fighter Rose Namajunas and her husband/trainer are yet to have any children together. After her loss to Jessica Andrade at UFC 237, Rose took some time away from competing.

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Many thought that she may not choose to return to fighting and start a family instead. However, being the warrior she is, Rose came back to the UFC and took back her 115lbs title.

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