Rose Namajunas has her eyes on a shot at the title after ending Tracy Cortez’s undefeated run in the UFC.
The women’s flyweight bout was the UFC on ESPN 59 main event at Ball Arena in Denver. It was a big opportunity for Cortez (11-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) to step up and replace an injured Maycee Barber, but the former strawweight champ Namajunas (14-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) proved there are levels to this game, winning a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47).
The former strawweight champ got to work quickly on the outside, darting in and out with quick strikes as she mixed up punches and kicks. Two minutes in, Namajunas dropped Cortez with a clean punch, knocking off an eyelash, but could not finish the fight after following her to the ground.
The fight returned to the feet a few moments later, and Namajunas remained calculated in her approach as the round progressed, continuing to pick her striking spots well.
Cortez performed better in Round 2, but Namajunas’ striking still quicker and sharper. A nice takedown from Namajunas was added in the closing moments, which would open up her grappling game.
Namajunas immediately went to the ground game again with a clean takedown early in Round 3. Cortez briefly returned to her feet, but was quickly returned to the mat. Submission attempts were defended well, and the fight returned to standing, but Cortez ate a solid front kick to the face in the closing seconds.
Fully confident in the clinch and her ability to complete takedowns, Namajunas kept the pressure on Cortez. The skill advantage in all aspects of the fight clearly favored Namajunas.
Down on the scorecards heading into the final round, Cortez needed a finish. She turned up the pressure, but couldn’t find a way to stop Namajunas.
During her post-fight interview, Namajunas called for a UFC flyweight title shot or even a women’s BMF title bout.
With the win, Namajunas stands tall in back-to-back main events. In March, she defeated Amanda Ribas by unanimous decision. Cortez walks away with her first loss in the UFC. The Dana White’s Contender Series veteran won her first five appearances, all by decision.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 59 results include:
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Rose Namajunas def. Tracy Cortez via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
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Muslim Salikhov def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28
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Jean Silva def. Drew Dober via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 3, 1:28
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Gabriel Bonfim def. Ange Loosa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
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Julian Erosa def. Christian Rodriguez via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:49
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Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage ruled no contest (accidental illegal strikes) – Round 1, 0:37
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Charles Johnson def. Joshua Van via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 0:20
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Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Fatima Kline via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Montel Jackson def. Da’Mon Blackshear via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:18
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Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:27
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Andre Petroski def. Josh Fremd via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Evan Elder def. Darrius Flowers via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 1:46
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 59.
Evan Elder vs. Darrius Flowers, UFC on ESPN 59
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Denver-Elder vs Flowers
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Evan Elder (red gloves) celebrates defeating Darrius Flowers (blue gloves)…
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Evan Elder (red gloves) celebrates defeating Darrius Flowers (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Evan Elder def. Darrius Flowers, UFC on ESPN 59 Scorecard
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Josh Fremd vs. Andre Petroski, UFC on ESPN 59
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Denver-Fremd vs Petroski
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Andre Petroski (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Josh Fremd (red gloves)…
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Andre Petroski (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Josh Fremd (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Andre Petroski def. Josh Fremd, UFC on ESPN 59 Scorecard
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Luana Santos vs. Mariya Agapova, UFC on ESPN 59
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Denver-Santos vs Agapova
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Luana Santos (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Mariya Agapova (blue…
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Luana Santos (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Mariya Agapova (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova, UFC on ESPN 59 Scorecard
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Montel Jackson vs. Da’Mon Blackshear, UFC on ESPN 59
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Denver-Jackson vs Blackshear
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Montal Jackson (red gloves) celebrates after knocking out Da’Mon Blackshear…
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Montal Jackson (red gloves) celebrates after knocking out Da’Mon Blackshear (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Montel Jackson vs. Da’Mon Blackshear, UFC on ESPN 59 Scorecard
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Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Fatima Kline, UFC on ESPN 59
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Denver-Jasudavicius vs Kline
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Jasmine Jasudavicius (red gloves) celebrates after her fight against Fatima…
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Jasmine Jasudavicius (red gloves) celebrates after her fight against Fatima Kline (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Fatima Kline, UFC on ESPN 59 Scorecard
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Joshua Van vs. Charles Johnson, UFC on ESPN 59
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Denver-Van vs Johnson
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Joshua Van (red gloves) reacts after knocking out Charles Johnson…
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Joshua Van (red gloves) reacts after knocking out Charles Johnson (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Charles Johnson def. Joshua Van, UFC on ESPN 59 Scorecard
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Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage, UFC on ESPN 59
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Denver-Alhassan vs Brundage
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Abdul Razak Alhassan (red gloves) reacts during a pause in…
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Abdul Razak Alhassan (red gloves) reacts during a pause in his fight against Cody Brundage (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage, UFC on ESPN 59 Scorecard
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Julian Erosa vs. Christian Rodriguez, UFC on ESPN 59
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Denver-Erosa vs Rodriguez
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Julian Erosa (red gloves) celebrates after submitting Christian Rodriguez (blue…
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Julian Erosa (red gloves) celebrates after submitting Christian Rodriguez (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Julian Erosa def. Christian Rodriguez, UFC on ESPN 59 Scorecard
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Gabriel Bonfim vs. Ange Loosa, UFC on ESPN 59
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Denver-Bonfim vs Loosa
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Gabriel Bonfim (red gloves) fights Ange Loosa (blue gloves) during…
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Gabriel Bonfim (red gloves) fights Ange Loosa (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Gabriel Bonfim def. Ange Loosa, UFC on ESPN 59 Scorecard
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