Tracy Cortez think both Rosa Namajunas and herself will enter uncharted territory when they face off on Saturday UFC on ESPN 59 main attraction.
Cortez (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) openly admits he’s facing a lot of new moments as he prepares for his first main event in the Octagon against Namajunas (12-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) at the Ball Arena in Denver (ESPN ). , ESPN+). She replaced Maycee Barber in the match on less than three weeks’ notice and was forced to adjust to the elevation, a five-round fight and her highest-level opponent to date.
It’s very difficult to play Cortez, she said, but she feels she handled everything professionally. Furthermore, the situation is easier knowing that the much more experienced Namajunas, who is a two-time champion, will have to deal with something new on fight night.
“I’m a gamer,” Cortez told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I’m not the type to back down from a challenge. I’m never one to say no to great opportunities. That’s how the great ones are made. This is how legends are made. Fighting a former world champion and getting a call-up – I felt extremely blessed and I stuck with it.
“I’ll be honest: it’s just a learning experience for me, this is all new to me. I’ve never done a fight (fight) at short notice, much less against a former world champion. But I am confident in myself and my abilities. It was just everything else around me that I had to figure out. Everything went very well, in fact incredibly smooth. I think I stressed myself out more than I should have.”
After a decorated run at strawweight, Namajunas moved up to 125 pounds in September. She is 1-1 in her new weight class, losing her debut to top contender Manon Fiorot before rebounding against Amanda Ribas in March.
Cortez, 30, thinks she brings a different skill set to the table than Fiorot and Ribas, especially when it comes to size and strength. Cortez, who has competed in women’s bantamweight, holds Namajunas in high regard, but thinks she has variables that could create problems for “Thug Rose” in this division.
“Who doesn’t love Rose? She’s an amazing person, but unfortunately we’re in the fight business,” Cortez said. “She wants to get up to 125 and we’re going to face each other. Whether now or in the future, it happens to be now. I have nothing bad to say about Rose, and if nothing else, I’m excited for this challenge and grateful that she took this fight with me.
“I want to say I’m a true 125er. Shit, I could even fight at 135, but I’m a true flyweight and I don’t think she’s faced someone like me yet, and vice versa. I’ve never faced a former world champion, so this is putting us both to a good test.”
Cortez, No. 8 in latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie women’s flyweight ranking, understands what a victory over a name like Namajunas would do for his career. Although Namajunas, who is ranked 13th, doesn’t have the same resume in this weight class as she did at strawweight, beating her is still a significant achievement.
If Cortez gets the job done, she will elevate her name to title contention. She’s confident the belt will eventually come her way, but with Valentina Shevchenko’s status uncertain for a potential Noche UFC title shot against champion Alexa Grasso, there could be plenty of serious opportunities if Cortez raises her hand.
“I really want to fight for the belt,” said Cortez. “I know there are still a lot of people ahead. I know winning this fight is where it can take me. And the performance I did on Saturday, I know everything that comes with it. If I get the opportunity and they give me the opportunity to fight in Sphere, I think it would be an amazing story. Two Mexican women on Mexican Independence Day fighting in the biggest sporting event of all time. I think that would be just amazing. This is something I never imagined and I feel like it is within arm’s reach. That’s what I’m looking for, but at the end of the day, long-term goal, I’m fighting for the belt.”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC on ESPN 59.
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