Rose Namajunas on Her Game Plan: ‘Punch Her in the Face, Take Her Back, and Choke Her Out’

Initially, this was intended to be Namajunas against Maycee Barber. But ongoing health issues caused Barber to withdraw, and she was replaced by Cortez.

“We’re in an era where there are a lot of change ups,” said Namajunas. “When the change happened, it was a bad day compared to the rest of the camp. It was an adrenaline dump. But it’s part of the game. It’s what we deal with as fighters. I was really looking forward to facing Maycee, but I’m excited to test myself against Tracy.

“She hasn’t fought somebody of my caliber yet, so that will be a big test for her. As far as the skills she brings to the table, I’m taking her 100 percent seriously. She’s going to be tough, but I’m ready.”

Cortez (11-1) defeated Erin Blanchfield in 2019, but her highlight reel is bereft of any other top opponents. That makes this bout against Namajunas especially important for Cortez, who will look to use her weight to slow down the fight. Cortez is not as dynamic a striker as Barber, but she is a better grappler, so Namajunas will be tested on Saturday.

A victory should send Namajunas into the thick of the title picture. Once reigning champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko settle their trilogy, Manon Fiorot is next–but a win here is necessary for Namajunas to keep herself in the mix.

“Anything is possible,” said Namajunas. “Obviously, Manon is waiting in the wings and we’re still waiting to see what happens with Alexa and Shevchenko. But you never know. I’m focusing on this fight, and then we’ll see what happens.”