‘Thug Rose’ looks to build momentum at flyweight

Rose Namajunas will look to build momentum in the women’s flyweight division when she faces Tracy Cortez in the main event of a UFC Fight Night, set for the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on the morning of Sunday 14 July 2024.

Namajunas (12-6), a former two-time strawweight division champion, secured her first win at flyweight when she defeated Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision back in March.

‘Thug Rose’ is enjoying the higher weight class, having overcome a debut loss in the division when she came up against Manon Fiorot last year: “Just feel stronger, I feel faster, I feel very, very healthy too. I have very little, like no injuries or anything like that, and even my immune system feels a lot stronger too."

Namajunas was originally slated to face rising star Maycee Barber, but the latter was forced to withdraw from the flight due to health issues. Tracy Cortez (11-1) has stepped in at late notice and will be looking to extend an impressive 11-fight win streak which last saw her overcome Jasmine Jasudavicius via unanimous decision in September 2023.

'REALLY CONFIDENT'

The 30-year-old from Arizona is hoping to establish herself as a title contender in the flyweight division: “I've seen the growth not just outside the cage, but in the cage. My coaches have seen the growth, and I'm really confident in my team. I don’t believe I would be the athlete I am without them.

“I do believe I have what it takes. Once they ingrained that in my brain, and I start seeing it, and I feel great, that's what happened.”

The rest of the main card features Santiago Ponzinibbio v Muslim Salikhov and Gabriel Bonfim v Ange Loosa – both in the welterweight division – as well as Julian Erosa v Christian Rodriguez in a featherweight fight, and a middleweight opener pitting Ghana’s Abdul Razak Alhassan against Cody Brundage.

UFC Fight Night: Namajunas v Cortez – Main card

- Women’s flyweight: Rose Namajunas v Tracy Cortez

- Welterweight: Santiago Ponzinibbio v Muslim Salikhov

- Welterweight: Gabriel Bonfim v Ange Loosa

- Featherweight: Julian Erosa v Christian Rodriguez

- Middleweight: Abdul Razak Alhassan v Cody Brundage