Rose Namajunas has been medically cleared to return to training three months after suffering an eye injury at UFC 324 against Natalia Silva. The former UFC strawweight champion underwent surgery to repair damage from an eye poke sustained during the bout. In a social media update, Namajunas revealed that both her thumb and eye have fully recovered, though she acknowledged being slightly out of shape. She called for stricter penalties for eye pokes in MMA, suggesting fighters should be fined even for accidental infractions due to the potential long-term health consequences. Namajunas expressed gratitude that her injury was not more severe and is now preparing for her return to competition.
Rose Namajunas has been medically cleared to return to training three months after sustaining a serious eye injury at UFC 324, where she faced Natalia Silva. The former UFC strawweight champion underwent surgery to repair damage caused by an eye poke during the bout and confirmed via social media that both her eye and thumb have fully healed.
Namajunas, known as "Thug," is 34 years old and competes out of 303 Training Center. The American fighter carries a professional record of 15 wins and 8 losses and is currently ranked sixth in the women's flyweight division. Standing five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach, she averages 3.5 significant strikes landed per minute and 1.47 takedowns per 15 minutes, reflecting a well-rounded game built around both striking and grappling. She acknowledged in her update that she is slightly out of shape following the extended layoff but is now focused on returning to competition.
Silva, the Brazilian fighter she faced at UFC 324, holds a record of 20-5-1 and sits fifth in the women's flyweight rankings. The 29-year-old southpaw trains with Team Borracha and is one of the division's more active strikers, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy.
Beyond her own recovery, Namajunas used her update to call for stricter enforcement around eye pokes in MMA. She argued that fighters should face financial penalties even for accidental infractions, citing the potential for long-term and career-altering damage. She expressed relief that her own injury did not produce more serious consequences.
Why it matters
- Namajunas remains a significant name at flyweight, and her return will have clear rankings implications at a division where she sits just outside the top five
- Her call for harsher eye poke penalties adds her voice to an ongoing rules enforcement debate in the sport
- A future rematch with Silva, currently ranked one spot above her, would carry divisional weight
