UFC on ESPN 59 predictions: Can Tracy Cortez topple Rose Namajunas in Denver?

The UFC is back in Denver, home of UFC 1, with a former champion and home-city fan favorite at the top of the card.

UFC on ESPN 59 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Ball Arena in Denver.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid for the main card in a separate window.)

Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage

Abdul Razak Alhassan

Records: Alhassan (12-6 MMA, 6-6 UFC), Brundage (10-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC)
Past five: Alhassan 2-3, Brundage 2-3
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Alhassan -170, Brundage +140
Junkie pick results: Alhassan 7, Brundage 4

Julian Erosa vs. Christian Rodriguez

Records: Erosa (29-12 MMA, 7-7 UFC), Rodriguez (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Past five: Erosa 3-2, Rodriguez 4-1
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Erosa +195, Rodriguez -230
Junkie pick results: Rodriguez 9, Erosa 2

Gabriel Bonfim vs. Ange Loosa

Nov 4, 2023; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Gabriel Bonfim (red gloves) prepares to fight Nicolas Dalby (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Ibirapuera Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Records: Bonfim (15-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Loosa (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Past five: Bonfim 4-1, Loosa 3-2
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Bonfim -340, Loosa +270
Junkie pick results: Bonfim 10, Loosa 1

Drew Dober vs. Jean Silva

Drew Dober

Records: Dober (27-13 MMA, 13-9 UFC), Silva (13-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
Past five: Dober 3-2, Silva 5-0
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Dober -105, Silva -115
Junkie pick results: Dober 7, Silva 4

Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 03: (L-R) Muslim Salikhov of Russia punches Randy Brown of Jamaica in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 03, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Records: Ponzinibbio (29-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC), Salikhov (19-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC)
Past five: Ponzinibbio 2-3, Salikhov 2-3
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Ponzinibbio -185, Salikhov +155
Junkie pick results: Salikhov 6, Ponzinibbio 5

Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez

Rose Namajunas

Records: Namajunas (13-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC), Cortez (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC)
Past five: Namajunas 3-2, Cortez 5-0
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Cortez No. 8; Namajunas No. 13, No. 13 pound-for-pound
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Namajunas -225, Cortez +185
Junkie pick results: Namajunas 9, Cortez 2

Check out all the main card picks below.

UFC on ESPN 59 main card picks

	Namajunas vs. Cortez	Ponzinibbio vs. Salikhov	Dober vs. Silva	Bonfim vs. Loosa	Erosa vs. Rodriguez	Alhassan vs. Brundage
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 112-67	Namajunas (63%)	Salikhov (78%)	Dober (59%)	Bonfim (85%)	Rodriguez (76%)	Alhassan (58%)
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 118-61	Namajunas	Salikhov	Dober	Bonfim	Rodriguez	Alhassan
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 118-61 2018, 2022 Champion	Namajunas	Ponzinibbio	Silva	Bonfim	Rodriguez	Alhassan
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 116-63 2014 Champion	Namajunas	Ponzinibbio	Dober	Bonfim	Rodriguez	Brundage
Nolan King @mma_kings 115-64 2023 Champion	Namajunas	Salikhov	Dober	Bonfim	Rodriguez	Alhassan
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 111-68	Cortez	Ponzinibbio	Dober	Bonfim	Rodriguez	Alhassan
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 109-70	Namajunas	Salikhov	Dober	Bonfim	Rodriguez	Alhassan
Simon Samano @SJSamano 108-71	Namajunas	Salikhov	Dober	Loosa	Rodriguez	Brundage
Matt Erickson @MattE 108-71	Cortez	Ponzinibbio	Silva	Bonfim	Rodriguez	Brundage
Brian Garcia @thegoze 107-72 2017 Champion	Namajunas	Salikhov	Silva	Bonfim	Erosa	Alhassan
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 100-79	Namajunas	Ponzinibbio	Silva	Bonfim	Rodriguez	Alhassan
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 94-85	Namajunas	Salikhov	Silva	Bonfim	Erosa	Brundage

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 59.