Tracy Cortez thinks both Rose Namajunas and herself will be entering uncharted territory when they clash in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 59 headliner.
Cortez (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) openly admits she’s encountering a lot of new moments as she readies for her first octagon main event against Namajunas (12-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) at Ball Arena in Denver (ESPN, ESPN+). She replaced Maycee Barber in the matchup on less than three weeks’ notice, and was forced to adjust to elevation, a five-round fight and her most high-level opponent to date.
It’s a lot to throw Cortez’s way, she said, but she thinks she’s handled it all professionally. Moreover, the situation is made easier in knowing the far more experienced Namajunas, who is a former two-time champion, is going to have to deal with something new herself come fight night.
