Who is Rose Namajunas' husband? Inside her relationship with Pat Barry
Rose Namajunas’ husband is her coach, Pat Barry. They are a power couple in the world of the UFC, and Rose is one of the most accomplished female fighters. They have an age difference of 13 years, which has sparked an ongoing debate.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Pat Barry and Rose Namajunas met while training at Roufusport gym in Milwaukee.
- Both are accomplished combat sports athletes in their respective divisions, with Pat Barry now serving as Rose Namajunas’ coach.
- The couple has been engaged for over a decade but has yet to hold a formal wedding ceremony.
- Their relationship has faced public scrutiny due to their age difference and early timeline.
Profile summary
Full name | Patrick Joseph Barry |
Date of birth | July 7, 1979 |
Age | 46 years old (as of April 2026) |
Place of birth | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
Current residence | Denver, Colorado, United States |
Nationality | American |
Height | 5’11” (180 cm or 1,8 m) |
Weight during fighting career | 240 lbs (109 kg) |
Marital status | Engaged |
Partner | Rose Namajunas |
Profession | Former mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and coach |
Net worth | $500,000 |
Social media |
Pat Barry is Rose Namajunas’ husband on paper
Although there has yet to be a formal wedding ceremony, Namajunas has since clarified that they are legally married. The couple has known each other for nearly two decades and has been officially engaged for over ten years.
In an Instagram reel posted by CalfKicker.com, Namajunas confirmed their legal marital status when asked about their engagement. In her words:
We are actually officially married. We just got the papers. I want to do a ceremony. Just waiting for the right time.
Source: Original
Rose Namajunas met Pat Barry at the gym
Namajunas met Barry at the Rufusport gym when she was 14 years old. At the time, Barry was already gaining recognition in mixed martial arts and kickboxing.
Pat Barry reportedly stated that his relationship with Rose Namajunas had spanned nearly five years by 2014, whereas Namajunas estimated it to be two or three years, sparking curiosity.
Their age difference has generated heated debates
Born on July 7, 1979, Barry is 13 years older than Namajunas. While the couple has consistently maintained that the age gap has not affected their relationship, it has generated public debate.
Public figures like Sean Strickland have often criticised their relationship. As Essentially Sport published, he, alongside Barry and Rose, was on a bus to a promotional event for UFC 268 when Strickland asked Barry for Rose's age.
In 2022, Sean also poked Barry with a tweet on X (Twitter), saying:
Here's the thing, guys, 99 per cent of what I say is usually wrong. This is not that time. @rosenamajunas like my post if you need help. I'll treat Pat Barry like they treat minors. Without consent. Although it won't be behind closed doors.
Source: Getty Images
Rose Namajunas’ husband was a mixed martial artist
Barry is a former professional mixed martial artist who competed in organisations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Pat Barry’s UFC career included several notable victories, including a knockout win over Antoni Hardonk, a trainee of his former coach Ernesto Hoost.
A combination of injuries and losses curtailed his upward trajectory. According to UFC, Barry retired from MMA in 2014 and briefly returned to kickboxing before stepping away from professional competition in 2015.
Coaching role in Rose Namajunas’ career
Barry has played an active role in Namajunas' development as her coach. When Pat Barry initially saw Rose Namajunas, before they even began dating, he said he knew there was something unique about her. Pat told UFC in November 2017:
Ever since the day we met, I specifically remember telling her that, ‘You are special and you have a talent.’ And if this is really what you want to do, we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure it can happen because you have what it takes.
Source: Getty Images
Rose Namajunas' fighting career began as a child
Before her rise as a UFC fighter, Namajunas began taekwondo at age five, earning a junior black belt by nine. She studied karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestled during high school under coach Duke Roufus in Milwaukee.
Sharing how she was exposed to mixed martial arts at Roufusport, as Bleacher Report shared, she said:
I saw the MMA classes and thought, 'I'll do that, too.' And they had guys like Pat and Eric Schafer who were making it a career, and that inspired me to do it. And now, here I am. There weren’t a lot of women doing it at the time, but I thought I had the talent to potentially help make it a big sport for women.
Pat Barry's wife has a higher net worth
According to TotalProSports and EssentiallySport, Rose’s net worth is between $1.5 million and $2 million, reflecting her success in professional fighting and endorsements. Barry’s net worth is significantly lower, estimated at $150,000, per TheRichest.
Source: Getty Images
Frequently asked questions
- How old was Rose Namajunas when she met Pat Barry? She was 14 years old.
- Why did Rose Namajunas shave her hair? She cut her hair to simplify her routine and focus more on training and performance.
- What is Pat Barry’s nickname? He is known as “The Cat,” a reference to his agility and reflexes.
Conclusion
Rose Namajunas has confirmed that Pat Barry is her husband in a legal sense, even though the couple has yet to hold a formal wedding ceremony. Despite ongoing public debate over their unconventional timeline and age difference, they have sustained a long-term relationship built on shared professional ambitions and personal commitment.
READ MORE: Meet Dricus du Plessis' wife-to-be: all about Vasti Spiller
Briefly.co.za published an article about Dricus and Vasti's relationship. MMA fighter Dricus Du Plessis met his future wife at Pretoria-based CIT Boxing, where he trains. They met about six months after Vasti started working there as a boxing coach.
Dricus Du Plessis and Vasti Spiller announced their engagement on 15 January 2025. The MMA star proposed during his 31st birthday celebrations in Pretoria. His fiancée shared a video of the event with the caption 'no longer two, but one' as a reference to the Mark 10:8 Bible verse.
Source: Briefly News
