Saturday’s UFC occasion at Ball Enviornment in Denver, Colo. was headlined by a ladies’s flyweight bout between former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez.
Namajunas entered the battle ranked sixth within the ladies’s 125-pound weight class. Cortez made the stroll to the octagon ranked eleventh and driving an 11-fight. With a win, Namajunas anticipated to place herself in title rivalry and provides herself the chance to develop into a two-division UFC champion. Cortez hoped to leapfrog a number of fighters within the divisional rankings with a win over “Thug.”
Namajunas landed first with a calf kick. Namajunas moved alongside the skin earlier than getting into the pocket with a proper hand. Namajunas linked with a proper hand counter off of a leg kick by Cortez. Namajunas landed a stiff jab. She linked with a left hand that dropped Cortez. Namajunas adopted Cortez to the canvas. After delivering just a few physique photographs, Namajunas stood.
Namajunas’ jab continued to land. Cortez tried to shut the gap however Namajunas’ jab saved her on the skin. Cortez pressed ahead and Namajunas met her with a mixture. Cortez linked with a proper hand. They exchanged leg kicks. Within the closing seconds, Namajunas pressed ahead with a mixture. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Namajunas.
Namajunas continued to ship leg kicks within the second body. Cortez started pressuring Namajunas however Namajunas used her footwork to maneuver away. The tempo slowed a bit as each stood in entrance of the opposite in search of a gap. Namajunas went excessive with a kick that landed. Cortez responded with a kick. Cortez closed the gap and took Namajunas down. As Namajunas stood, Cortez took her again. Namajunas received again to her toes however Cortez utilized a guillotine choke earlier than letting it go. They separated.
Again at distance, Namajuans linked with a proper hand. Cortez pressed ahead however did not land something important. Namajunas secured a takedown within the closing moments of the spherical. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Namajunas.
Cortez come out aggressive within the third. She rushed throughout the cage and clinched. They exchanged punches contained in the clinch earlier than separating. Namajunas modified ranges and took Cortez down. She shortly superior to the mount. Cortez used the cage to get out of the mount. Namajunas regarded to take her again. Cortez powered to her toes however the two remained within the clinch. Cortez regarded to journey Namajunas within the clinch however Namajunas ended up taking her down. She once more superior to the mount place on the halfway mark within the spherical.
Cortez tried to make use of the fence once more to get out of the mount and Namajunas took her again. Cortez labored her method again to half guard after which to her toes. Namajunas linked with a teep kick to the face of Cortez towards the top of the spherical. MMAWeekly scored the body 10-9 for Namajunas.
Cortez pressured Namajunas to begin the fourth spherical. She created a frantic alternate and linked forcing Namajunas to clinch. The separated. Cortez landed a counter left hand however Namajunas responded with a stiff jab. Namajunas modified ranges and took Cortez down. Cortez shortly received to her toes and the 2 labored for place alongside the fence. Namajunas backed away. Most of Cortez’ punches have been simply in need of vary. Cortez secured a takedown however Namajunas wasted no time getting again to her toes. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Namajunas.
Heading into the ultimate spherical, Cortez’ nook maintain her that she wanted to ‘choke her out, or knock her out.’
Namajunas delivered a leg kick to begin the body. Cortez pressured Namajunas. She linked with a left hand. Namajunas answered with by going to the physique with a punch. Cortez clinched and drove Namajunas to the fence. Namajunas modified the place and Cortez circled free. Cortez pressed ahead however missed with a mixture. Namjunas landed a proper hand and Cortez responded with a proper hand. Cortez started sitting down on her photographs.
Namajunas clinched however they separated. Namajunas secured a takedown however Cortez instantly received again to her toes. After separating, Cortez began taunting Namajunas to face and commerce. Namajunas did not fall for it. Cortez linked with a tough proper hand with a minute remaining. Cortez continued to stress. Namajunas linked with a proper hook. Namajunas clinched within the closing seconds. The ultimate spherical was shut. MMAWeekly scored it 10-9 for Cortez.
The judges scored the battle for Namajunas by unanimous choice. The scorecards learn 49–46, 49–46, and 48–47.
