Despite a change in opponent from Maycee Barber to Tracy Cortez, and with the fight in her own backyard, Fight Week hasn’t changed much for Rose Namajunas ahead of UFC Denver. “It’s kind of, I think it’s about the same. Just focused on winning, and climbing my way up.”
Speaking to reporters ahead of the card- “Thug” Rose trains at the nearby Elevation Fight Team- Namajunas (12-6) outlined how she went through about a day of disappointment after the Barber fight fell through, plus a “little bit of an adrenaline dump for a second, like emotionally I guess.”
Things turned around once a replacement presented herself. “Once I learned that Tracy was on the table, there was an option, I was like ‘alright, I’ve got to switch my focus, and I’ve regroup my thoughts- but also, don’t force it and make sure I give myself enough time to process it.'”
In her mind, there was a possibility Namajunas might not fight in Denver at all, but she carried on with training regardless. “That thought pops in your mind a little bit,” she admitted.
At 1-1 as a flyweight and coming off a win over Amanda Ribas, Namajunas knows there’s plenty at stake in her five-round main event this Saturday. She wants to put on a big show, but first and foremost, a win is what matters.
“A win is a win. You know how the UFC works, you’re only relevant if you’re winning, or obviously if you do something special,” stated Namajunas. “That’s definitely high on my priority list: number one is to protect myself at all times, but number two is to win, and then number three is to be spectacular and perform and be me, and do what I do best.”
Watch the full UFC Denver media day appearance by Rose Namajunas above.
