Namajunas secures second straight win at flyweight

Rose Namajunas secured a second straight win at flyweight after she overwhelmed Tracy Cortez for a unanimous decision win in the main event of a UFC Fight Night at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on the morning of Sunday 14 July 2024.

‘Thug Rose’, a former two-time strawweight champion, bossed the fight throughout, with greater striking output and numerous takedowns to suffocate Cortez – who stepped in to replace Maycee Barber at relatively short notice to fight five rounds for the first time in her career.

The judges' scorecards ultimately reflected Namajunas’ dominance – 49-46 49-46 48-47 – and the winner paid tribute to her adopted city.

“Denver has been good to me for so many years,” said Namajunas. “I had a tough upbringing. When I’m here I can just kinda breathe.”

The 32-year-old then called for a shot at the flyweight title – currently held by Alex Grasso – or to fight for a female version of the ‘BMF’ [Baddest Mother F*****] belt.

“Give me the belt, man, I want it,” said Namajunas. “Either that or a women’s BMF.”

OTHER RESULTS FROM DENVER

The rest of the main card saw a split decision win for Muslim Salikhov over Santiago Ponzinibbio in a welterweight co-main match; Jean Silva scored a third-round doctor’s stoppage TKO of Drew Dober in the lightweight division; in another welterweight fight, Gabriel Bonfim outpointed Ange Loosa; Julian Erosa submitted Christian Rodriguez in the first round of their featherweight clash; and the middleweight opener between Abdul Razak Alhassan and Cody Brundage was declared a No Contest after accidental elbows to the back of the head left the latter unable to continue.

The UFC continues next weekend with a Fight Night at the APEX Facility in Las Vegas, headlined by a women’s strawweight clash between Amanda Lemos and Virna Jandiroba.

UFC Fight Night: Namajunas v Cortez – Main card results

- Women’s flyweight: Rose Namajunas def. Tracy Cortez via unanimous decision (49-46 49-46 48-47), R5, 5:00

- Welterweight: Muslim Salikhov def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via split decision (28-29 29-28 29-28), R3, 5:00

- Lightweight: Jean Silva def. Drew Dober via TKO (doctor’s stoppage), R3, 1:28

- Welterweight: Gabriel Bonfim def. Ange Loosa via unanimous decision (30-27 30-27 29-28), R3, 5:00

- Featherweight: Julian Erosa def. Christian Rodriguez via submission (guillotine choke), R1, 4:49

- Middleweight: Abdul Razak Alhassan v Cody Brundage – No Contest (illegal elbows), R1, 0:37