I love spoiling a party. I love it when someone is on a roll and just messin' that up.
— Rose Namajunas
Every fight is dangerous, no matter who you're fighting, no matter what the story behind it is.
I've always been like, if society's trying to push me in one direction, I always rebel against it, thinking, 'Nope, I'm going to do the opposite, something that is not expected.'
All the scars on my body, all the bumps and bruises, all the muscles - that is a story of everything I have done. And it's not just my story. My ancestors who came before me gave me this vessel to sculpt and mold.
I just wish there were a little more peace in the world.
I'm glad I went through the 'TUF' experience.
It's all about me, no matter who I'm fighting.
I'm the all-around threat. I've got the look; I think I've got the whole package.
I've always felt that I was a star. I always knew that I am a star.
Always try to reinvent myself; never try to stay the same person, because that's how people figure you out.
I grew up with lots of anger, frustration, and violence in my heart.
Mixed martial arts - there's just been a lot of trash talking and things like that. People, I feel like, aren't really being true to themselves or being honest. I don't know, maybe that's what they feel they need to do to entertain things.
I definitely get down on myself. I needed to work on my self-talk. The same way you do footwork drills and cardio training, I had to do self-talk training.
It's great that mixed martial arts allows people to still be in touch with their animal side and duke it out in a cage, but I think it's important: we're still nurturing beings, and we should still have compassion for each other.
I want to encourage people to be nicer to each other, to be nicer to themselves.
Wrestling and kickboxing, like martial arts, combine a handful of skills. They're really an art form.
The learning curve, and the things that you have to adapt to on a daily basis in the UFC, is pretty crazy. It's a huge burden for anybody to have: not just the fighting itself but learning how to deal with the other responsibilities.
I love my 303 ladies. We go hard here, you know - we're fierce!
I thrive on chaos and difficult situations. I guess that's who I am.
Being resourceful and creating is a big part of my Lithuanian culture. My grandfather is part of who I am, too. He was a professional wrestler. He had a very functional, very slick, long frame.
There's a lot around us that we can't control, but my body, my mind, and my soul are pretty much the only things that I can.
I didn't need the belt to validate me.
It's hard to focus on a fight when your heart is broken and you're not happy in your relationship, especially if that's your coach. That's like fighting without one leg.
There are so many variables that go into a fight, you shouldn't waste your time worrying about the other fighters.
I think that I can speak in front of the camera. I think my fighting ability can speak for itself as well.
When they asked us what we wanted to be when we grow up, in kindergarten, I always said I wanted to be a farmer.
If I'm not fighting for a good reason, then your personal life starts to get messy, and it's like, 'What am I doing this for?'
I have overcome some demons in my path.
I feel like we have a duty as fighters to try and be a better example.
A lot of times, my best friend was my dog.
Fighting causes you to face life head on, because you could end up seriously getting hurt, and you could hurt somebody else. It causes both people to face the reality that we are fragile beings, but it doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves in the process and punch each other in the face and have a good time.
A big misconception is that women shouldn't be in the UFC because we fight 'like girls,' but I think women have some of the most exciting fights.
I love to learn, and that's the really cool thing about martial arts - you're always learning new things.
It's pretty cool to be called a champion.
From my perspective, if I say that I'm done, I would hope - and I trust - that my corner would throw in the towel for me.
I guess I'm crazy. If everything was easy-peasy and green lights all the time, it'd be kind of boring.
My hands look like my dad's and my mom's put together. She's a piano player, he was an artist, and I use the creative qualities I got from them in my fighting. But I don't just destroy with my hands; I also create: I cook and make art and garden.
I had to really create a positive atmosphere for myself, and that has to come from within.
I learned that love is a much more sustainable energy to draw on than hate.
In order to survive, I created a certain type of aura about myself that I was the baddest chick walking down the street. Anytime somebody underestimates me, Thug Rose comes out.
We're not just fighters, we're entertainers.
I don't think anybody is perfect.
2016 was really challenging for me. I don't know what it was.
I come from a place of lots of turmoil.
Fighting helped me learn that I can't let my emotions take over.
Some of the things I've had to overcome in my past, fighting helped me deal with a lot of struggles. Obstacles in life don't make you a great fighter, but fighting - or, I should say, martial arts - helps you overcome your obstacles.
I was kind of a loner growing up.
I want to be the most influential champion, in a positive light. I want to change the world.
When you want to be a fighter, you have to give it everything you got. MMA just became who I am because of the amount of work I was putting into my training. It all starts in the gym. The hours turn into days, days into weeks, and weeks into months; it's like school - the more time you spend learning, the better you'll be prepared for a test.
My dream is to be a farmer myself, but also to provide opportunities to others who don't have the land or the resources, in order to grow food themselves and teach them how to do it.
