TLDR
- Rose Namajunas lost a close unanimous decision to Natalia Silva at UFC 324 on Saturday
- Namajunas suffered multiple eye pokes during the fight and underwent surgery on Tuesday
- She had canalicular tube surgery to repair torn drainage system in her eye
- Recovery time is estimated at three months with a silicone tube placed in her eye
- Many critics believe Namajunas actually won the controversial decision
Sources: Yardbarker | MMA Fighting | Essentially Sports
LAS VEGAS — Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas underwent eye surgery on Tuesday following her controversial loss at UFC 324 this past weekend.
Namajunas lost a close unanimous decision to Natalia Silva on Saturday night after suffering multiple eye pokes during the bout. Many observers believed Namajunas had done enough to win the fight.
Surgery Required After Eye Pokes
The 34-year-old fighter revealed on Instagram that she needed canalicular tube surgery to repair damage from the fight. “I’m headed into surgery,” Namajunas said. “I got poked in the eye a few times in the fight. But my tube is torn so it’s going to be repaired right now.”
Canalicular trauma occurs when there is a tear to the drainage system in the eye. Doctors will place silicone tubes to restore tear drainage and act as a spacer while the injury heals.
Namajunas said she expects a three-month recovery period with the silicone tube remaining in her eye during that time. She asked fans to pray for her while expressing relief that the injury could be fixed.
👀😬 Rose Namajunas required to have surgery following her loss to Natalia Silva.
"I got poked in the eye a few times in the fight."
(via @rosenamajunas) pic.twitter.com/ap3GbSl2sw
— Full Mount MMA (@MMAFullMount) January 27, 2026
The typical recovery period for this type of surgery can last up to 10 months depending on healing time. Namajunas appears to be on the shorter end of that timeline.
Silva Claims Title Shot Promise
Meanwhile, Silva improved to 8-0 in the UFC with the victory and immediately called for her promised title shot. Silva (20-5-1) stepped in on short notice to replace Alexa Grasso in the flyweight bout.
Speaking through a translator at the post-fight press conference, Silva said the UFC promised her a women’s flyweight title shot as incentive for taking the fight. “That’s what should happen, and that’s what the UFC told me that I was going to get a title fight,” Silva said.
Silva delivered a composed technical performance against Namajunas. She said she accepted the fight to save the event and expects the promotion to honor its word.
The Brazilian fighter even suggested the UFC’s planned White House event on June 14 as a potential date for her title shot against champion Valentina Shevchenko. Silva’s birthday falls on February 3, and she called a title fight “an amazing birthday gift.”
Shevchenko last defended her flyweight title in November against Zhang Weili, who vacated her strawweight championship in an unsuccessful attempt to become a two-division champion.
The loss drops Namajunas to 3-2 in her last five fights and takes her out of title contention at flyweight. She moved up from strawweight in 2023 after two reigns as champion at 115 pounds.
At flyweight, Namajunas has beaten Tracy Cortez and Miranda Maverick but lost to higher-ranked contenders Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot. The Silva fight marked her third loss in four outings.
Given the three-month recovery timeline, Namajunas should be able to return to competition before the end of 2026.
