Rose Namajunas has undergone eye surgery and received medical clearance to resume training three months after suffering an eye injury at UFC 324. The former strawweight champion sustained the injury from an eye poke during her fight with Natalia Silva. Namajunas, who holds a 14-8 record overall and 12-7 in the UFC, posted an update on social media calling for stricter penalties for eye pokes regardless of intent. She suggested immediate point deductions even for accidental infractions, citing the potential long-term health consequences. Namajunas expressed gratitude that her injury was not more severe and confirmed both her thumb and eye have fully recovered, though she acknowledged being slightly out of shape.
Rose Namajunas has been medically cleared to return to training three months after sustaining a serious eye injury during her bout with Natalia Silva at UFC 324, the former champion announced on social media.
Namajunas, 34, competing out of 303 Training Center, holds a 15-8 record with 12 of those wins coming inside the UFC. The Colorado-based fighter is currently ranked sixth in the women's flyweight division and brings a well-rounded skill set to the cage, averaging 1.47 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a submission attempt rate of 0.3 per 15 minutes. The eye injury, which resulted from an eye poke during the Silva fight, required surgery before she could resume any physical activity. She confirmed that both her thumb and eye have now fully healed, though she noted she is slightly out of shape after the extended layoff.
Silva, 29, is a southpaw striker from Brazil representing Team Borracha and sits fifth in the women's flyweight rankings with a record of 20-5-1. She generates significant offensive pressure, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy, making her one of the more active strikers in the division.
Beyond the update on her physical recovery, Namajunas used her social media post to call for stricter officiating around eye pokes. She argued that point deductions should be applied immediately, even for accidental infractions, pointing to the potential for long-term and serious health consequences. She expressed relief that her injury did not prove more severe.
Why it matters
- Namajunas remains ranked sixth at flyweight, and a return fight would carry immediate divisional relevance
- Her call for stricter eye poke penalties adds to an ongoing conversation about fighter safety and referee enforcement
- The style contrast between Namajunas's takedown-oriented game and Silva's high-volume striking produced the kind of contested action that left both fighters and fans wanting a clearer resolution
