Rose Namajunas is hopeful a win Saturday will put her in place to go after one thing she as soon as barely dared to dream about.
Namajunas (13-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) takes on late alternative Tracy Cortez (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) within the UFC on ESPN 59 important occasion in entrance of her dwelling followers in Denver. Cortez stepped up for Maycee Barber, who needed to pull out in late June.
The battle will likely be Namajunas’ third at flyweight within the UFC, and the previous ladies’s strawweight champ already can see the potential to go after a belt at 125 kilos, too – which might put her in rarefied air if she was to turn out to be a two-division titleholder.
“Once I first began my profession within the UFC, that was my imaginative and prescient that I had in thoughts. It wasn’t tremendous stable, however I positively wished to turn out to be champion,” Namajunas instructed MMA Junkie Radio. “After which, someplace behind my thoughts, I believed to turn out to be champion in two divisions, as effectively.
“However that was to this point within the distance, I wasn’t certain if I might make that occur. However now I do know that I can.”
Namajunas misplaced the strawweight belt to Carla Esparza in her second reign as champion. She moved as much as flyweight, however misplaced to Manon Fiorot. She obtained again on observe in opposition to Amanda Ribas in March, although, and a win over Cortez, who has but to lose within the UFC and is unbeaten since a loss in her professional debut, is perhaps sufficient for her to leap the road – particularly given her accolades one division down.
Cortez received’t be a simple process, although Namajunas is greater than a 2-1 betting favourite. She stated she needed to swap some issues up after spending a lot time prepping for Barber, however to not the purpose she appears involved.
“It’s not like night time and day distinction,” Namajunas stated. “My method is identical so far as what I’m going to do, and it just about is identical each time. So far as protection goes, I simply should be careful for somewhat bit of various issues. I feel that Tracy has higher again management when she will get on the bottom. She’s nice on the highest. … With Tracy, there are much less dynamics and he or she’s type of coming at you somewhat extra. However she’s obtained nice fundamentals, and I’m seeking to make sure that my fundamentals are higher than hers and now have that further aptitude, as effectively. I might beat her in all places, in order that’s my aim.”
Namajunas is No. 6 within the UFC’s official ladies’s flyweight rankings. Barber is No. 4, so a win over her would’ve gone a good distance in serving to her distinguish herself from former champ Valentina Shevchenko, Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield.
Cortez is ranked No. 11, however Namajunas doesn’t assume she’s in a lose-lose scenario taking a danger in opposition to a lower-ranked opponent.
“I’d say I’m proper in that title competition talks (with a win),” Namajunas stated. “God keen, I’m wholesome, I’m in form and I’m able to go together with a win and no matter alternatives they need to give me. I might see myself combating for the belt actually quickly. It’s only a matter of doing my job and combating to the most effective of my skills. Something’s potential.”
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