UFC Denver headliner Tracy Cortez steps up on short-notice to fill in for the injured Maycee Barber against an ex-champ in “Thug” Rose Namajunas, doing everything she can to salvage the fight – including tearfully chopping her hair at Friday’s weigh-ins to hit the flyweight limit.
Just two days earlier, at Wednesday’s media day, Cortez (11-1) was sounding much more chipper.
Despite the credentials of Rose, who twice reigned as the UFC women’s strawweight champion, Cortez believes she has something to show Namajunas, and sees her opponent as she as unprepared as she is herself.
“She’s a veteran. She’s a veteran, and this isn’t her first rodeo, so I know she’s mentally aware of what’s to come. But she hasn’t fought a 125’er like myself,” Cortez stated during the UFC Denver media day. “She hasn’t fought someone like me at this weight division. Just as unprepared as I am, she is as well, and I believe it’s going to be a good fight.”
Namajunas believes a win over Cortez moves her closer to a title shot. Cortez sees the same being true in reverse.
“I say the same. I’ll be 6-0 in the UFC, 12-1 pro record. I believe although I haven’t been as active, I do believe I deserve it. But I’m not too worried about what’s next. I’m just focused on Saturday night.”
Cortez was also presented with a rather interesting question: is Namajunas deserving of the #6 ranking she holds in the flyweight division? Given she’s 1-1 in the weight class, it would seem ranking panelists are giving weight to Rose’s past at 115lbs, after all.
“I honestly don’t care about the rankings. I fight, and I just want to keep moving up,” replied Cortez, before adding that “I believe Rose is deserving. She’s put in the work. Like we said, she’s an ex-, former word champion.”
That said, Cortez also noted that “if anything, I think there’s pressure on her to prove that she does deserve to be in the flyweight division.”
Both women will have the chance to prove they deserve their spot come Saturday.
Watch the full UFC Denver media day appearance by Tracy Cortez above.
