Rose Namajunas needs eye surgery to recovery from UFC fight

Former two-time UFC champion Rose Namajunas is facing a long road to recovery after undergoing eye surgery on Tuesday, following a controversial and physically costly loss at UFC 324 against Natalia Silva at T-Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026.

The 33-year-old MMA veteran revealed on her social media that she will be sidelined for an extended period after sustaining a canalicular laceration — a tear to the tear-drainage system inside her left eye — believed to be the result of multiple eye pokes suffered during the fight. Namajunas confirmed she was “poked in the eye a few times in the fight,” prompting the need for corrective surgery.

“Canalicular tube surgery. I got poked in the eye a few times in the fight, so yeah, but my tube is torn so it’s going to be repaired right now. … Three months, pray for me guys,” Namajunas wrote in her Instagram announcement.

What the Injury Means

The injury — involving damage to the tiny canal that drains tears from the eye into the nasal cavity — required a delicate procedure to repair the lacerated tissue. Surgeons inserted a small silicone stent to hold the drainage passage open while it heals, a device that is expected to remain in place for about three months before removal.

In additional comments captured by media outlets and MMA insiders, Namajunas explained that as a result of the surgery she cannot sneeze or blow her nose for the duration of her recovery — an uncomfortable but medically necessary precaution given the proximity of the tear duct to the nasal passage.

The UFC 324 Fight and Aftermath

The bout with Silva was one of the most talked-about clashes on the UFC 324 card — not just for its competitive nature, but also for the debate around illegal eye pokes that went unpenalized. Although Silva earned a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards, many observers felt Namajunas had done enough to win at least two of the three rounds.

Namajunas herself later said that one of the eye pokes in the second round left her vision compromised, forcing her to fight the rest of the bout with diminished sight, which she believes affected her performance. In interviews following surgery, she expressed frustration that the fouls weren’t addressed more firmly during the fight, and suggested stricter penalties for eye pokes to protect fighters’ safety.

Implications for Her Career

The injury and subsequent surgery mark a significant setback for Namajunas. A win over Silva would likely have positioned her for a title shot in the women’s flyweight division — possibly against reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko. Instead, she’ll be out of action for at least three months and must rebuild momentum in one of the UFC’s most competitive weight classes once she returns.

Namajunas is now 3-3 since moving up to flyweight from strawweight — a tenure that has featured notable wins and tough setbacks alike. This latest medical issue compounds the challenges she’ll have to overcome as she plots her next chapter in the Octagon.