Hair is gone for Rose Namajunas but MMA fans still want to know why — VIDEO
It's been over a month and MMA fans are still wondering why Rose Namajunas traded in her long blonde hair for a buzz cut?
She has been asked that question so many times that the MMA fighter probably forgot the reason behind the change.
First, it was because the hair got in her way while training for her UFC battle against Paige VanZant (6-1) at the Cosmopolitan on Thursday. Then it was about reminding the public that she's preparing for a fight, not a beauty pageant between two strawweight contenders.
Namajunas, of course, was presented the question again during a press conference on Tuesday after her open workout at the MGM.
"I'm not surprised," Namajunas (4-2) said about the interest in her hair, "but at the same time I always question why. Why is hair even a big deal? So that's part of the reason why I cut it off, too, just to ask the question, 'Why does anybody care?' That's the way society is nowadays, they focus on really weird things."
The media wasn't too fond of the latest answer and tried to pin the reasoning on her opponent, VanZant. Namajunas didn't bite and instead praised the UFC's rising star.
"She's definitely on a roll," The former "Ultimate Fighter" runner-up said about VanZant. "She has the whole package. She's every exciting. She has all the hype that she deserves. I'm not taking her lightly."
The 23-year-old Namajunas is competing in her third UFC card and is an underdog versus the 21-year-old VanZant, who has won her last four fights and is drawing comparisons to Ronda Rousey.
"I matchup really great against her," Namajunas said. "My striking and jiu jitsu poses a lot of problems for her."
Namajunas looked as confident as her dog, Mishka, did on Tuesday. Surrounded by fans and reporters, Mishka calmly joined Namajunas during her workout and patiently waited while her owner answered questions.
"She's keeping me calm," Namajunas said. "As long as she's calm then I'm calm."
Gilbert Manzano can be reached at 702-383-0492 or gmanzano@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @gmanzanzo24
