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Andreas Hale, ESPN
Rose Namajunas used superior striking and grappling to shut down an energetic attack from Tracy Cortez on Saturday night to win by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night at a sold-out Ball Arena in Denver.
This was a home bout for Namajunas (14-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC), a No. 6-ranked UFC flyweight who has lived in Denver for the past decade, and the former two-time strawweight champion dominated Cortes in every aspect of the bout, finishing her off with superior striking in the early stages and then dominating with grappling in the middle rounds.
By scores of 49-46, 49-46, 48-47, Namajunas recorded her second straight win since losing her flyweight debut to Manon Fiorot in 2023.
“I’m Colorado’s first UFC champion, so I want to take this belt home,” Namajunas said after her win. “Or the women’s BMF. [title fight]”
With flyweight champion Alexa Grasso set to fight Valentina Shevchenko later this year and likely Fiorot after that, Namajunas may be one or two fights away from getting a title shot, but “Thug Rose” is finding her footing in her new weight class and could be back in the running for a title shot before long.
Cortez, originally scheduled to face Miranda Maverick the following week, assumed the role less than three weeks later after Macy Barber was forced to withdraw due to health issues.
This was a big step up for Cortez (11-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), as Namajunas showed her she has a level of grappling talent as well. Cortez entered the fight ranked No. 11 in the UFC flyweight division and suffered her first loss since losing her pro debut in 2017.
Namajunas showed off her striking prowess early on, landing a kick to the calf, followed by a series of sharp jabs and right punches. A left hook from Namajunas sent Cortez to the mat and knocked her an eyelash. Namajunas went after Cortez looking for a finish, but decided against it and stayed on the floor for the rest of the round.
Cortez adjusted to avoid getting caught out by Namajunas’s superior striking in the second round, but struggled to track her and use her wrestling. Though Cortez was considered the better wrestler, the tide turned when Namajunas got a takedown near the end of the round to set the tone for the next two rounds.
Sensing the fight was getting out of hand, Cortez went after the former champion hard, only to be thwarted by a takedown from Namajunas. From there, Namajunas had superior top control, denying Cortez the opportunity to get to her feet for most of the round. When Cortez finally did get to her feet, Namajunas landed a front kick to the face just before the round’s end.
Namajunas continued to control the bout on her own terms in the fourth round, dragging Cortez to the mat with aggressive wrestling and taking control of the bout with her striking prowess to close out the bout.
