Thug Rose: Mixed Martial Artist, a full-length documentary about former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas, debuts Oct. 30 at the Austin Film Festival before heading to UFC Fight Pass, the promotion announced today.
The film was co-produced with UFC Originals and documents Namajunas’ rough childhood in Milwaukee, before she turned to MMA. She also became a star in UFC where she won the title of strawweight champion. Marius Markevicius is a veteran producer who has produced many award-winning documentaries. He directed this project.
The documentary also highlights Namajunas’ turn into mental health advocacy and environmentalism – and her chops as a concert pianist.
” I am thrilled that the Austin Film Festival has recognized Thug Rose’s outstanding work and UFC Fight Pass producers,” UFC President Dana White stated in a press statement. White is also a coexecutive producer with UFC executives Craig Borsari, Chris Kartzmark and Chris Kartzmark. “Huge honor. “Huge honor.
Namajunas and Markevicius will attend the screening at the State Theater (7:30 p.m. ET) and give a Q&A after the film.
Namajunas is on the mend after losing the strawweight title for a second time in a rematch with Carla Esparza, who defeated her at UFC 274 in a rematch of their first meeting for the inaugural 115-pound title. Prior to that, she defended the title once with a second win over Zhang Weili, whom she knocked out to claim the belt a second time.
Outside the cage, Namajunas has kept busy with the film project and a recent turn as a Victoria’s Secret model.
