In the summertime, aside from Major League Baseball, MLS, and Leagues Cup, there’s not much going on. We’re still a few weeks away from the NFL’s preseason starting up in Canton with the Hall of Fame Game.
This is called a sports lull, but thankfully, we’ve got MMA‘s top promotion get us through it. to The UFC‘s back starting this weekend every Saturday night between now and Aug. 24 for your entertainment. Denver is the first stop in this seven-week run of events starting this Saturday from Ball Center.
Dana White’s organization returns to the city where it all began in November of 1993 for UFC Denver. Live coverage of the card begins at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT with the prelims, continuing with the main card at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT. Saturday’s card is seen gavel-to-gavel on ESPN and ESPN+ inside the United States.
Flyweights Meet in UFC Denver Main Event
All told, barring any late adjustments between now and then, the final version of UFC Denver features a full 12-fight card. Highlighting the night’s activities is a women’s flyweight bout in the main event of the evening.
No. 6 contender Rose Namajunas (12-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) collides with No. 11 contender Tracy Cortez (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC). As with all UFC main events, Saturday’s is an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
Fight week continues in Colorado 📸#UFCDenver | SAT | Live on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/dFDNPRkma2
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2024
UFC Denver Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the UFC Denver main event on Saturday night, both contestants stand level in height at 5-foot-5. Cortez owns a half-inch reach advantage (65 1/2 inches to 65 inches even), with Namajunas owning a one-inch leg reach advantage (39 1/2 inches to 38 1/2 inches.)
Currently, the oddsmakers have Rose Namajunas installed as a -200 favorite on the money line, with Tracy Cortez countering as a +165 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend in combat sports and/or MMA, please wager responsibly.
“Thug Rose” Dealing with Late Change in Adversary Ahead of UFC Denver Main Event
Rose Namajunas enters the UFC Denver main event having gone 3-2 in her last five MMA fights. Back on March 23, she bested Amanda Ribas (12-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) by way of unanimous decision after five rounds during the UFC Vegas 89 main event.
Tracy Cortez was not booked to be Namajunas’ adversary on Saturday night when UFC Denver was originally announced. In late June, Maycee Barber, her initially-scheduled opponent this weekend, revealed that the bout was pulled from the card due to medical issues stemming from a hospital visit after her last fight.
In Wednesday’s media session, Namajunas talked about finding out that Barber would be unavailable.
“I went through a day of disappointment and like, ‘Wait, what does this mean?’,” Namajunas began. “And then, I’d say I had a little bit of an adrenaline dump for a second, I guess. When I learned that Tracy was on the table, that was an option, I instantly was like, ‘All right, I’ve got to switch my focus and I’ve got to regroup my thoughts, but also give myself enough time to process it.’ I made that switch, and here we are.”
How will she fare on Saturday night? Tune in and find out.
Tracy Cortez Makes First Main Event Walk in Denver
In the other corner, Tracy Cortez, an alumnae of Invicta Fighting Championships, has posted a record of 5-0 in her last five contests. At present, she’s on a 10-fight winning streak dating back to Nov. 4, 2017.
Last September, she notched a unanimous decision victory after three rounds over Jasmine Jasudavicius (10-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) during Noche UFC inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Saturday’s headliner is the first such bout for Cortez since getting signed to the UFC with a win on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2019.
Cortez met the press Wednesday and she mentioned that she doesn’t care who gets booked to face her.
“It’s always nice to be prepared,” she stated. “My mindset when I’m training with my coaches is we’re training for whatever opponent is in front of me. In reality, I’m mentally preparing to fight the best. I’m mentally preparing for a fight as if it were a championship fight, so, it sounds crazy, but I feel like I was almost prepared. This is like perfect timing.”
Cortez was originally slated to fight next weekend versus Miranda Maverick before the main event spot in Denver became available.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Stylistically, the UFC Denver main event on Saturday night looks to favor Rose Namajunas, who owns black belts in taekwondo and karate, along with a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, while Tracy Cortez was a wrestler before turning pro in MMA.
Watch Namajunas’ Ground Game
Given that Rose Namajunas owns black belts in three disciplines, there’s no denying that she’s a complete package. Her offensive prowess on the mat was on display during her fight vs. Ribas back in the spring.
During the first round of a scheduled five, Ribas dumped Namajunas, only for the latter to roll over and take top position, transitioning to half guard and landing some ground and pound shots to soften her up for a submission that never came. If Namajunas gets top position in the UFC Denver main event, she can seize control of the fight.
Look For Cortez to Keep Up the Pace
In the other corner, Tracy Cortez’ plan of attack is going to be predicated on maintaining the pace of the UFC Denver main event. One need look no further than her contest against Jasudavicius in Las Vegas last September.
She was quick to the punch early on in the fight, executing combinations and mixing up her strikes, forcing Jasudavicius to shoot for two successful takedowns in the second round. Cortez landed a couple of knees to the body in the clinch later on in the second round.
Despite both fighters showing the effects of a battle in the third and final round, Cortez was still the aggressor, scoring with right-handed punches and thwarting takedown efforts from her opponent. If she can force Namajunas to abandon her gameplan, Cortez will find herself in the top-10 next week.
Final Thoughts
This is a fight that’s worth staying up late on Saturday night for. It’s going to be a thrilling five rounds (or less) of action.
Prediction: Rose Namajunas by Unanimous Decision.
