Quotes from Rose Namajunas

My dad died, and he wasn't in my life because he had schizophrenia, so it's been something that my entire family has been fighting against since I can remember.

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.

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.

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.

Oh, man - I don't have just one favorite fighter, but I draw from many different aspects of each fighter. But I will say, just going back in the history of the UFC, just kind of trying to learn from each fighter, I've been looking at Brock Lesnar, all the things he did for the UFC back in the day, and his attitude and things like that.

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'm glad I went through the 'TUF' experience.

I'm just here to show up and fight and then get my money and go home.

Me being the best in the world, it doesn't mean that much to me if I'm not a good person at the end of the day, if I'm not setting a good example for other people to be better to each other.

I feel like anything can be worked out; you just gotta talk through it as adults.

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.

I'm the all-around threat. I've got the look; I think I've got the whole package.

I thrive on chaos and difficult situations. I guess that's who I am.

Money and fame, it only makes you so happy. You gotta find other reasons to fight. I want a certain amount of money to do the things that I want to do.

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.'

Everybody's one fight away from getting a title shot if they step in on short notice for somebody.

Always try to reinvent myself; never try to stay the same person, because that's how people figure you out.

People think after the fight you get to sit around and relax and all that. But really, people come around and family and all that, so it's a whole 'nother responsibility you have to take care of.

There are so many variables that go into a fight, you shouldn't waste your time worrying about the other fighters.

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.

Wrestling and kickboxing, like martial arts, combine a handful of skills. They're really an art form.

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.

There's a process to everything. If you fast track or make shortcuts in any way, and you get too much of one thing, you're just out of balance.

I want to be the most influential champion, in a positive light. I want to change the world.