Rose Namajunas recently detailed an “unnecessary” exchange she had with her upcoming opponent, Macy Barber’s father.
Namajunas and Barber will meet as flyweight contenders in the main event of UFC on ESPN 59 on July 13. Barber is riding a six-fight winning streak and is full of confidence going into the matchup with the two-time UFC champion. Namajunas has no problem with Barber’s confidence, but feels her “future” father has been disrespectful to her.
“I like when a fighter is confident. I like when they believe in themselves,” Namajunas told MMAjunkie.com. “For me, as long as she’s not being disrespectful, I’m fine with that. I feel like her dad was kind of rude in the past, but that’s who he is, so whatever. But she should keep doing what she’s doing and I respect everything she’s done. I think she’s developed into a really good prospect and I’m excited to face her.”
The incident came after a fight in which Barber’s father was reportedly actively involved in bashing Namajunas. According to “Thug” Rose, it’s only fair for cornerbacks to exchange name-calling if the other person initiates it.
“He was yelling in my face, ‘I’m going to get you.’ I was like, ‘Hey, calm down,’ because I don’t have a father, I have to get somebody else,” Namajunas said. “If people are going to go after me, I have to get some company…
“[It was] “Obviously emotions were high after the fight, but personally I thought, ‘he was wrong.’ In my opinion, if my corner starts attacking my opponent, their corner has the right. We’re all fighting now… for me it’s etiquette. It should just be between fighters. If you’re a parent, you might be a little more emotional, but you still have to be in control. That’s not cool.”
Namajunas bounced back from a two-fight slump with a unanimous decision win over Amanda Rivas at UFC on ESPN 53 in March.
