Carrying the weight of expectation can be a difficult task for any fighter, and Rose Namajunas' experience with hype and the spotlight wasn't a pleasant one.
The 23-year-old Wisconsin native rocketed to the forefront of the emerging women's strawweight division under the UFC banner on the strength of three-straight submission finishes, which earned her a place in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 tournament.
With each consecutive victory, the buzz surrounding Thug Rose amplified, and her bout against Carla Esparza for the inaugural women's 115-pound title seemed to be the perfect setting for her ascension into stardom.