Former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas is stepping into the Octagon not against Maycee Barber as previously thought, but against undefeated rising star, Tracy Cortez.
Though No. 11 ranked Cortez isn't ranked as high as No. 4 ranked Barber, Namajunas still thinks she can make her way toward a title shot if she wins at UFC Denver.
“Originally, [a title shot] was kind of the idea,” Namajunas told the New York Post.
“… That’s what it was looking like. And obviously, I still think that it could potentially be that [with this fight]. It really just kind of depends on what happens.”
Namajunas will need to do something very special on July 13 considering she won just one flyweight fight since her divisional debut in September 2023.
Cortez, on the other hand, is undefeated but still without a UFC finish on her record.
“I like Tracy. I think she’s pretty good, well-round in a bunch of different [facets],” Namajunas said.
“I think her skills that she brings to the table is going to [make her] a good opponent for me. I just believe in my skills, and I just believe that I’m on that next level.”
Live on DAZN: Jaron Ennis vs. David Avanesyan on July 13. Click here for details.