Within the summertime, except for Main League Baseball, MLS, and Leagues Cup, there’s not a lot occurring. We’re nonetheless a couple of weeks away from the NFL’s preseason beginning up in Canton with the Corridor of Fame Sport.
That is referred to as a sports activities lull, however fortunately, we’ve bought MMA‘s high promotion get us by means of it. to The UFC‘s again beginning this weekend each Saturday night time between now and Aug. 24 in your leisure. Denver is the primary cease on this seven-week run of occasions beginning this Saturday from Ball Heart.
Dana White’s group returns to the town the place all of it started in November of 1993 for UFC Denver. Dwell protection of the cardboard begins at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT with the prelims, persevering with with the principle card at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT. Saturday’s card is seen gavel-to-gavel on ESPN and ESPN+ inside america.
Flyweights Meet in UFC Denver Important Occasion
All informed, barring any late changes between at times, the ultimate model of UFC Denver encompasses a full 12-fight card. Highlighting the night time’s actions is a girls’s flyweight bout in the principle occasion of the night.
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 essential occasions, Saturday’s is an marketed most of 5 rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.
Struggle week continues in Colorado 📸#UFCDenver | SAT | Dwell on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/dFDNPRkma2
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2024
UFC Denver Important Occasion Fighter Comparability and Betting Odds
Heading into the UFC Denver essential occasion on Saturday night time, each contestants stand stage in peak at 5-foot-5. Cortez owns a half-inch attain benefit (65 1/2 inches to 65 inches even), with Namajunas proudly owning a one-inch leg attain benefit (39 1/2 inches to 38 1/2 inches.)
At the moment, the oddsmakers have Rose Namajunas put in as a -200 favourite on the cash line, with Tracy Cortez countering as a +165 underdog. In case you plan on betting on this or some other combat occurring this weekend in fight sports activities and/or MMA, please wager responsibly.
“Thug Rose” Coping with Late Change in Adversary Forward of UFC Denver Important Occasion
Rose Namajunas enters the UFC Denver essential occasion having gone 3-2 in her final 5 MMA fights. Again on March 23, she bested Amanda Ribas (12-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) by means of unanimous determination after 5 rounds in the course of the UFC Vegas 89 essential occasion.
Tracy Cortez was not booked to be Namajunas’ adversary on Saturday night time when UFC Denver was initially introduced. In late June, Maycee Barber, her initially-scheduled opponent this weekend, revealed that the bout was pulled from the cardboard because of medical points stemming from a hospital go to after her final combat.
In Wednesday’s media session, Namajunas talked about discovering out that Barber can be unavailable.
“I went by means of a day of disappointment and like, ‘Wait, what does this imply?’,” Namajunas started. “After which, I’d say I had a bit little bit of an adrenaline dump for a second, I assume. Once I discovered that Tracy was on the desk, that was an possibility, I immediately was like, ‘All proper, I’ve bought to change my focus and I’ve bought to regroup my ideas, but additionally give myself sufficient time to course of it.’ I made that change, and right here we’re.”
How will she fare on Saturday night time? Tune in and discover out.
Tracy Cortez Makes First Important Occasion Stroll in Denver
Within the different nook, Tracy Cortez, an alumnae of Invicta Preventing Championships, has posted a file of 5-0 in her final 5 contests. At current, she’s on a 10-fight profitable streak courting again to Nov. 4, 2017.
Final September, she notched a unanimous determination victory after three rounds over Jasmine Jasudavicius (10-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) throughout Noche UFC inside T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas. Saturday’s headliner is the primary such bout for Cortez since getting signed to the UFC with a win on Dana White’s Contender Sequence in 2019.
Cortez met the press Wednesday and she or he talked about that she doesn’t care who will get booked to face her.
“It’s all the time good to be ready,” she said. “My mindset once I’m coaching with my coaches is we’re coaching for no matter opponent is in entrance of me. In actuality, I’m mentally making ready to combat the very best. I’m mentally making ready for a combat as if it have been a championship combat, so, it sounds loopy, however I really feel like I used to be nearly ready. That is like excellent timing.”
Cortez was initially slated to combat subsequent weekend versus Miranda Maverick earlier than the principle occasion spot in Denver grew to become out there.
Evaluation, Movie Examine, and Prediction
Stylistically, the UFC Denver essential occasion on Saturday night time seems to be to favor Rose Namajunas, who owns black belts in taekwondo and karate, together with a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, whereas Tracy Cortez was a wrestler earlier than turning professional in MMA.
Watch Namajunas’ Floor Sport
Provided that Rose Namajunas owns black belts in three disciplines, there’s no denying that she’s an entire package deal. Her offensive prowess on the mat was on show throughout her combat vs. Ribas again within the spring.
In the course of the first spherical of a scheduled 5, Ribas dumped Namajunas, just for the latter to roll over and take high place, transitioning to half guard and touchdown some floor and pound photographs to melt her up for a submission that by no means got here. If Namajunas will get high place within the UFC Denver essential occasion, she will seize management of the combat.
Look For Cortez to Hold Up the Tempo
Within the different nook, Tracy Cortez’ plan of assault goes to be predicated on sustaining the tempo of the UFC Denver essential occasion. One want look no additional than her contest towards Jasudavicius in Las Vegas final September.
She was fast to the punch early on within the combat, executing mixtures and mixing up her strikes, forcing Jasudavicius to shoot for 2 profitable takedowns within the second spherical. Cortez landed a few knees to the physique within the clinch in a while within the second spherical.
Regardless of each fighters exhibiting the results of a battle within the third and last spherical, Cortez was nonetheless the aggressor, scoring with right-handed punches and thwarting takedown efforts from her opponent. If she will power Namajunas to desert her gameplan, Cortez will discover herself within the top-10 subsequent week.
Last Ideas
This can be a combat that’s value staying up late on Saturday night time for. It’s going to be an exhilarating 5 rounds (or much less) of motion.
Prediction: Rose Namajunas by Unanimous Determination.
