NAMAJUNAS VS BARBER FIGHT REPLAY WIN
NAMAJUNAS VS BARBER FIGHT REPLAY WIN
In a thrilling main event at UFC on ESPN 59, Rose Namajunas demonstrated her elite skills and championship pedigree, securing a decisive victory over Tracy Cortez. The bout, held at Ball Arena in Denver, showcased Namajunas’ strategic brilliance and technical mastery, ending Cortez’s undefeated streak in the UFC.
Breakdown of the Fight
From the opening bell, Namajunas set the pace, employing a dynamic mix of punches and kicks to keep Cortez on the defensive. Her movement was fluid, darting in and out of range with ease. Two minutes into the round, Namajunas landed a clean punch that sent Cortez to the canvas, knocking off an eyelash. Despite the knockdown, Cortez displayed resilience, quickly recovering and returning to her feet. Namajunas continued to control the round, selecting her striking opportunities with surgical precision.
Round 2: Cortez Responds, But Namajunas Shines
Cortez showed improvement in the second round, adapting to Namajunas’ striking and attempting to impose her own game plan. However, Namajunas remained a step ahead, her striking sharper and quicker. In the closing moments of the round, Namajunas executed a well-timed takedown, adding another dimension to her attack and opening up her grappling game.
The third round saw Namajunas immediately take the fight to the ground with a clean takedown. Although Cortez managed to briefly return to her feet, Namajunas swiftly brought her back to the mat. Cortez defended well against submission attempts, but Namajunas landed a solid front kick to the face in the closing seconds, further asserting her dominance.
Round 4: Pressure and Control
Namajunas, fully confident in her clinch work and takedown ability, continued to apply relentless pressure. The skill disparity between the two fighters became increasingly evident, with Namajunas showcasing her superiority in all aspects of the fight. Cortez, aware she was behind on the scorecards, needed a finish to turn the tide.
Round 5: Cortez’s Last Stand
Entering the final round, Cortez intensified her efforts, seeking a decisive finish. However, Namajunas remained composed, effectively neutralizing Cortez’s attacks and maintaining control. The former strawweight champion’s experience and tactical acumen were on full display as she sealed her victory.
In her post-fight interview, Namajunas expressed her desire for a UFC flyweight title shot or a women’s BMF title bout. With back-to-back main event victories, including a unanimous decision win over Amanda Ribas in March, Namajunas has firmly positioned herself as a top contender in the division. Cortez, who experienced her first UFC loss, demonstrated her potential but was ultimately outclassed by the seasoned veteran.
NAMAJUNAS VS CORTEZ FIGHT REPLAY
https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/40557567
Interviewer: Can you just talk to me a little bit about the performance? Are you happy with it? Did it go the way that you thought it would go?
Fighter: Oh, absolutely. I’m happy with that. I’m happy with, one, having very little injury, two, being able to win, and then, three, I felt like it was a pretty exciting fight. I wanted to finish, of course. It’s been a while since I finished somebody, so yeah, it’s been since what, like 2020, 2021, or something? So, yeah, of course, I want to finish, but I felt like I was pretty close at least. I dropped her at first, so yeah, overall, very happy.
Interviewer: Did you know that her eyelashes flew off when you did that?
Fighter: No, I don’t know how she does that. First of all, I can’t even wear eyelashes, period, because every time they try to put them on me, I just get sleepy. So, you know, her fighting with them, that’s crazy. I think a lot of people loved that moment. I just thought it was really funny.
Interviewer: Yeah, that’s crazy. So, what did you think of her as an opponent?
Fighter: Oh, man. Yeah, I was very happy with her stepping up. I know she’s a God-fearing woman, so that’s something that I admire as well. I feel like if she keeps walking in that, really leans into that, it can transform her life, and she can really excel. So, overall, I think she’s cool from what I could tell, but yeah, I don’t really know her. But very, very happy with sharing the octagon with her tonight.
Interviewer: Was there anything about her that surprised you in there?
Fighter: Not really. I knew she was going to be really tough. I guess she was a little more in shape than I thought she was going to be, but at the same time, I could also feel the moments where she started to get a little bit of hope and kind of pressure and go for it. Then she would kind of get deflated when I would come back with something, and then she would recharge again and do something else. So, a little bit surprised with her ability to keep trying, keep going for something, even after getting shut down. But I knew she had a lot of heart, so sort of, yeah.
Interviewer: What did you think of everything that happened at weigh-ins? Like, that was the headline the whole day, you know, her cutting her hair. As women, we have this emotional connection with our hair. As you can see, I’ve been done with that a long time ago, so what do you think of that or make of that?
Fighter: I mean, I don’t know. To me, it’s just hair, you know. But it is, it is. I do sometimes still have dreams with my long hair, and I’m like, oh. So yeah, I know that it’s a big deal, but I don’t know. This is fighting, you know. I can’t wait till I’m done fighting so I can focus on being pretty again. Hopefully, I still have my good looks when I’m retired, but I don’t know. It’s just hard to focus on that kind of stuff while you’re fighting. I do feel like, I don’t know who is in charge of making sure that the scale you check your weight on before you get on the official scale, they’re supposed to be the same, and they were not the same. Whoever’s in charge of that, I need to talk to because that was very suspicious. Something didn’t feel right as soon as I noticed a discrepancy. And then when they said for her to blow out her air, then it was a half a pound lighter. So I don’t know what was going on with that. I don’t know how you can blow a half a pound of oxygen. Either way, it’s all good. I just wanted to fight, so it didn’t matter.