Namajunas v Cortez preview & top betting picks | UFC Denver

UFC Fight Night heads to the Ball Arena in Denver this Saturday as former champion Rose Namajunas tackles the promising Tracy Cortez. Namajunas is working toward a second shot at UFC gold, while Cortez will vault into the top 10 if she can emerge with an upset win.

Namajunas v Cortez fight preview

Rose Namajunas vs Tracy Cortez

Rose Namajunas (12-6-0) continues her march toward a potential shot at the women’s flyweight crown after a successful spell at strawweight that included two stints as champion. The 32-year-old was outclassed by Manon Fiorot at her 125-pound debut in 2023 but looked much more assured in her second outing in the new division with a solid win over Amanda Ribas.

Namajunas is a clean and crisp striker with excellent footwork and ability to control range. She slides in and out of the danger zone better than almost any other female MMA athlete, and her timing can be hard to read for less experienced pugilists. This skill set is reflected in her status as a warm favourite with MMA betting sites for this contest.

Tracy Cortez (11-1-0) made her UFC debut in 2019 and has since compiled a five-fight win streak. She has been brought along slowly and this contest represents a big rise in class. During this winning run, the 30-year-old has been unable to produce any highlight-reel performances, with all her fights going the distance.

The American has two stoppage wins on her professional record — one coming via knockout, the other via submission — but these victories date back to 2018. She has made steady progress in the rankings and now sits just outside the top 10, but Cortez would be wise to press harder in her contests if she hopes to build her profile.

Namajunas v Cortez predictions

This bout appears almost certain to last the distance. Namajunas is more likely to score a stoppage, either by head-kick KO or submission, but Cortez has proved her toughness and might be hard to finish. As online bookmakers are giving us no value on the favourite in head-to-head betting, backing Namajunas to prevail by points looks the right play.

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