Tracy Cortez thinks each Rose Namajunas and herself will likely be coming into uncharted territory after they conflict in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 59 headliner.
Cortez (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) brazenly admits she’s encountering a whole lot of new moments as she readies for her first octagon primary occasion in opposition to Namajunas (12-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) at Ball Area in Denver (ESPN, ESPN+). She changed Maycee Barber within the matchup on lower than three weeks’ discover, and was compelled to regulate to elevation, a five-round struggle and her most high-level opponent to this point.
It’s rather a lot to throw Cortez’s means, she stated, however she thinks she’s dealt with all of it professionally. Furthermore, the scenario is made simpler in realizing the way more skilled Namajunas, who’s a former two-time champion, goes to should cope with one thing new herself come struggle night time.
“I’m a gamer,” Cortez instructed MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I’m not one to ever shy down from a problem. I’m not ever one to say no to nice alternatives. That is how the greats are made. That is how legends are made. To struggle a former world champ, and have a name – I felt extraordinarily blessed and jumped on it.
“I’m going to be blunt: It’s only a studying expertise for me, that is all new to me. I’ve by no means taken a short-notice (struggle), not to mention in opposition to a former world champ. However I’m assured inside myself and my expertise. It was simply all the things else round me that I had to determine. All the things went actually easy, truly extremely easy. I believe I harassed myself out greater than I ought to have.”
After a embellished run at strawweight, Namajunas moved as much as 125 kilos in September. She’s gone 1-1 in her new weight class, shedding her debut to high contender Manon Fiorot earlier than bouncing again in opposition to Amanda Ribas in March.
Cortez, 30, thinks she brings a special skillset to the desk than that of Fiorot and Ribas, particularly in relation to dimension and energy. Cortez, who has competed at girls’s bantamweight prior to now, carries Namajunas in excessive regard, however thinks she has variables that would create issues for “Thug Rose” on this division.
“Who doesn’t love Rose? She’s an unbelievable individual, however sadly, we’re within the preventing enterprise,” Cortez stated. “She desires to maneuver as much as 125 and we’re going to face one another. Whether or not it’s now or down the street, it simply occurs to be now. I’ve nothing unhealthy to say about Rose and if something, I’m excited for this problem and I’m grateful she took this struggle with me.
“I wish to say I’m a real 125er. Sh*t, I may even struggle at 135 however I’m an actual flyweight and I don’t suppose she’s but to face somebody like myself, and vice versa. I’ve by no means confronted a former world champion, so it’s placing each of us in a superb take a look at.”
Cortez, No. 8 within the newest USA TODAY Sports activities/MMA Junkie girls’s flyweight rankings, understands what a win over a reputation like Namajunas would do for her profession. Though Namajunas, who’s ranked No. 13, doesn’t have the identical kind of resume on this weight class as she did at strawweight, beating her remains to be is a major accomplishment.
If Cortez will get the job completed, she would elevate her title into title rivalry. She is assured the belt will come her means ultimately, however with Valentina Shevchenko’s standing unsure for a possible Noche UFC title shot in opposition to champion Alexa Grasso, there might be critical alternatives abound if Cortez will get her hand raised.
“I actually wish to struggle for the belt,” Cortez stated. “I do know there’s lots of people forward of me nonetheless. I do know successful this struggle, the place it may transfer me to. And the efficiency I placed on Saturday, I do know all the things that comes with it. If I get the chance they usually grant me the chance to struggle on the Sphere, I believe it will be unbelievable historical past. Two Mexican girls on Mexican Independence Day preventing on the most important sport occasion ever. I believe that will simply be unbelievable. That’s one thing I by no means imaged and I really feel prefer it’s simply arm’s size. That’s what I’m striving for, however on the finish of the day, long-term objective, I’m preventing for the belt.”
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