UFC Colorado: Namajunas vs Cortez – 7.13.2024 – Fight Predictions and Analysis
Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Fight Night Colorado: Namajunas vs Cortez. Fights return tonight after a brief hiatus with Ball Arena in Denver playing host for this event. Our analysis includes a pick for every bout from Dynes Sports contributors Anthony Marro and Nicholas Marro.
As coverage continues, we will keep our records up to date below. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick though as records will not reflect confidence. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.
Current Record
- Anthony: 168-102-0 (Last Year 307-199-6, 61%)
- Nick: 166-104-0 (Last Year 324-182-6, 64%)
*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 7-12-2024 at 9pm EST
Preliminary Card- Starts 7:00pm EST
Evan Elder -420 vs Darrius Flowers +310
- Anthony: The event begins with this fight at welterweight between Evan Elder and Darrius Flowers. This bout was announced just days ago and added to tonight’s fight card. Both of these fighters tend to appear more often at 155 pounds. Elder seems like a decent prospect with a win to his credit since joining the promotion. While billed primarily as a grappler, Elder is comfortable boxing and using his length to attack opponents from range. He has good kicks and a striking style that blends well with his offensive wrestling. Flowers was taken down four times in his last fight and I doubt he will stuff many takedowns today if Elder does get deep on the legs. Flowers can crack opponents with his hands but I do not think can hurt Elder much here fighting up in weight. Both previous appearances in the UFC saw Flowers outclassed as the betting underdog. Elder is the more complete fighter and more likely of these two to find a finish. I like his chances here on short notice, applying pressure to Flowers and testing his grappling defense. I do not think he has the cardio to hold up against Elder at this high elevation. Evan Elder by Round Two Submission
- Nick: Evan Elder took his debut fight on very short notice, fighting up a weight class as a means to gain entry to the promotion. He was man-handled for three rounds in that spot, but he showed solid durability and a willingness to go out on his shield. He’s most recently coming off his first win under the UFC banner, which came via decision over Genaro Valdez. Elder is decent everywhere as an intelligent striker and an explosive athlete. He’s still raw in his abilities as he’s only 27 years-old, but he continues to show considerable improvements everytime we see him in the cage. He fights out of an excellent camp via Kill Cliff FC. Darrius Flowers is somewhat undersized for the division, but he has one-shot KO power on the feet and a solid understanding of wrestling fundamentals. He is 12-7-1 professionally, coming off a hard fought decision loss to Michael Johnson. Flowers’ greatest weakness is his cardio, which will likely play as a major factor with this fight taking place at elevation in Denver. This line is wide, but Elder is the rightful favorite. He’s the better fighter overall, and it’s tough to back a fighter like Flowers knowing he’s very likely to fade. Evan Elder by Round Three KO
Andre Petroski -110 vs Josh Fremd -110
- Anthony: Next is a fight at middleweight between Josh Fremd and Andre Petroski. This is a matchup that I have struggled to predict, perhaps not surprising given the odds currently sit as a pick ’em. Petroski seems a bit steadier than Fremd, confident to hold the center of the cage and not scared at all when fights hit the mat. Petroski’s best work is his wrestling while I consider his striking a work in progress still. Petroski figures to be stronger than Fremd in a lot of these grappling exchanges but Fremd is also no pushover when his fights go to the ground. Not only is Fremd great at snatching up his opponents’ neck but his takedown defense is also very good. Anthony Hernandez was able to wipe the floor with Fremd but a mediocre wrestler like Petroski won’t find that same success. Nobody has outwrestled Fremd since that performance in his promotional debut. I also rate Fremd’s striking a bit higher than Petroski’s. He has a three-inch reach advantage and a wider arsenal of attacks from range. Fremd can work Petroski here to the body and hopefully take over completely with his hands once the takedown threat has been dispelled. Fremd also seems like the more likely fighter to win this bout by stoppage. Petroski has been knocked out in both of his previous appearances inside the cage. Josh Fremd by Round Two Submission
- Nick: In many ways, these are two very similar fighters. They both prefer to grapple, they both shoot for takedowns relentlessly and there are questions that need to be answered regarding both of their striking abilities and their cardio. Andre Petroski is a decorated collegiate level wrestler who mostly leans on his powerful grappling to overwhelm and discourage his opponents. He has shown KO power on the regional scene, but he telegraphs his strikes, which means in most matchups he’s best suited to lean on his grappling ability. He is 4-2 since joining the UFC, coming off back to back losses via KO. Josh Fremd was once a highly regarded prospect. He was favored heavily to capture the LFA Middleweight title over Gregory Rodrigues back in May of 2021, but he was caught clean with strikes and put out via devastating KO. He is 2-3 in the UFC, coming off an ugly KO via liver punch to Roman Kopylov. Fremd is very tall, but he doesn’t use his range that well. He’s a powerful striker, but defensively he leaves a lot to be desired. Most of his success at the UFC level has come on the mat. These are two inconsistent and volatile fighters, but I slightly prefer Fremd here. He’s going to have a massive reach advantage, and Petroski’s cardio at elevation is likely a recipe for disaster. Josh Fremd by Round Three KO
Luana Santos -400 vs Mariya Agapova +300
- Anthony: This is a fight at women’s flyweight between Luana Santos and Mariya Agapova. Santos has looked good in both previous octagon appearances, beating Stephanie Egger and Juliana Miller. She can certainly hold her own while fights are standing but Santos figures to have a clear edge here if she can secure takedowns and put her grappling to good use. Since joining the UFC, Agapova has been taken down seven times on fourteen attempts. Agapova has had some flashes of brilliance striking and putting forth great combos out of the southpaw stance. Her hands are quick and she has a reach advantage here against the smaller Santos. I would love to take Agapova here but I do not think she holds up well after the first five minutes. Previously she has fallen apart in fights when the going gets tough or she is stuck to the mat. A two year hiatus could mean that Agapova drastically improved her takedown defense, but I figure at some point Santos will find herself on top and slicing through her guard. Santos seems like the rightful favorite but this is not a matchup that I plan on betting. Luana Santos by Decision
- Nick: Luana Santos is 7-1 professionally and 2-0 in the UFC. While her skills are still far from refined, she is much more polished as a fighter than one might expect given the lack of depth to her resume. Her strikes are far from powerful, but she continues to show technical improvements in that facet of her game. She’s primarily a grappler with three of her seven professional wins coming via submission. Maria Agapova is a dangerous and aggressive striker with some of the more dangerous power there is in this division. She has been wildly inconsistent, but when he’s at her best she uses her range well and throws consistently damaging volume. That being said, she has been out of action since 2022. It seems she’s had a lot of issues in her personal life over the past few years, so it’s tough to expect she’ll be at her best in this spot. Additionally, her cardio is a major concern here – especially with this fight taking place at elevation. The line is far too wide here as Agapova will be very dangerous early. Still, I expect Santos can weather that initial storm and the take over as this fight wears on. Luana Santos by Round Two Submission
Montel Jackson -150 vs Da’Mon Blackshear +125
- Anthony: This is a contest at bantamweight between Montel Jackson and Da’Mon Blackshear. I think we are getting great value here on Jackson as he makes his tenth appearance in the UFC today. Jackson is a very sharp striker with fast hands and exceptional length for a bantamweight. He is not a high volume attacker but when Jackson places his shots opponents often struggle to respond. He has scored a total of ten knockdowns in his previous six octagon appearances. Blackshear can fight effectively from both stances but I expect to see him forced to fight orthodox here against a longer southpaw opponent. I also do not think Blackshear has the skills standing to box for very long. Blackshear’s defense is very porous and I expect him to wear some visible damage here. Blackshear can make this fight much more competitive by implementing his offensive grappling. His jiu jitsu is solid and Blackshear tends to do well gluing himself to opponents at this weight class. I have some concerns about the fight playing out in this manner but Jackson at -150 odds is my bet nonetheless. I am happy to back Jackson at this number after previously playing him at -600 or worse against Rani Yahya, JP Buys and Jesse Strader. Montel Jackson by Round Two KO
- Nick: Montel Jackson is good pretty much everywhere. He’s primarily a striker with surprising power for a bantamweight, now coming off four consecutive wins. As good as he’s looked lately, Jackson has been finding most of his success against lower level talent. He was once a highly regarded prospect, but it’s hard not to feel he’s developing much slower than expected. At 32-years old he still has time to make a run towards the top of the division, but he has very little room for error. Da’Mon Blackshear is a former Cage Fury FC Bantamweight Champion. He’s 2-2-1 in the UFC, most recently coming off a narrow decision loss to a tough out in Mario Bautista. He is fairly well-rounded, but primarily a grappler. He’s dangerous on the mat offensively with a BJJ black belt, and nine of his fourteen professional wins have come via submission. He does a decent job striking at range, but his ability to string together combinations is fairly limited. This is a tough fight to call, but I slightly prefer the Jackson side. I’m not confident in Blackshear’s ability to ground Jackson with any consistency. Montel Jackson by Decision
Jasmine Jasudavicius -125 vs Fatima Kline +105
- Anthony: Next is a fight at women’s flyweight between Fatima Kline and Jasmine Jasudavicius. Kline stepped in on short notice for this bout after Jasudavicius was originally slated to fight Viviane Araujo. It is a debut for Kline that has been a longtime coming, training to be in the UFC since she was ten years old. While Kline has primarily fought at strawweight I do not expect her to be considerably outsized here facing Jasudavicius. Kline is a jiu jitsu black belt with better offensive grappling than Jasudavicius. Most of the time Jasudavicius is winning fights by mixing in her wrestling but I am not sure that will be a game plan that works against this high-level opponent. Jasudavicius should have a small edge over Kline while striking but her punches do not seem to have much effect at all on her opponents. Jasudavicius largely uses her high volume striking as a means to close distance or win favor with the judges. Kline is going to be the woman putting forth more effort for a finish and likely landing the more meaningful strikes. I am very concerned about Kline fading here in a short notice matchup at altitude, but I would bet her against Jasudavicius if she did have a full camp. I am excited to see what the future holds for this bright, young prospect. Fatima Kline by Decision
- Nick: Jasmine Jasudavicius is decent everywhere, but she’s found more success grappling than she has striking. Her takedown entries are somewhat predictable, but she’s surprisingly strong for her frame so she’s able to secure them even when her opponents see them coming. She is 10-3 professionally and 4-2 in the UFC, coming off a dominant win via submission over Priscila Cachoeira. Fatima Kline will be making her UFC debut in this match-up, having captured the Cage Fury FC Vacant Strawweight Championship over Andressa Romero back in February. She is 6-0 professionally, and just 24-years old. She’s small for the division, but a gifted offensive grappler. She’s going to have a technical advantage when this fight hits the mat, but she’s fighting up a weight class and I expect Jasudavicius can outmuscle her here. Jasmine Jasudavicius by Decision
Joshua Van -260 vs Charles Johnson +200
- Anthony: The featured prelim is a fight between flyweights Joshua Van and Charles Johnson. This should be a competitive scrap with both men coming off consecutive victories. Van is just 22 years old and already making a name for himself in the UFC. He has proven to be an exceptional boxer with a very high work rate. Van is averaging 9.08 significant strikes landed per minute while Johnson’s average is currently 4.48. His combination punching is no joke. I consider Johnson the more skilled grappler when comparing these two but he isn’t the most effective wrestler. While Johnson should hold the advantage over Van on the mat, I am not sure we see this fight contested there. Van does well keeping his balance and fighting opponents where he is at his best. I think he will get inside of Johnson’s reach and land the bigger shots in this fight. He also tends to build as fights go late, giving him an edge in rounds two and three. He is the rightful favorite here and I view Van as a safe bet to secure this win. Joshua Van by Decision
- Nick: Joshua Van is 10-1 professionally, with six wins coming via KO and two coming via submission. He’s coming off three straight wins under the UFC banner. For a 22-year old he is already very well-rounded and dangerous no matter where his fights go. He’s primarily a boxer and he’s crisp offensively. He fights at a torrid pace and puts out a lot of volume in exchanges. He’s still developing his skills, but it seems he’ll likely be a staple in the flyweight division for years to come. Charles Johnson is a former LFA flyweight champion, but he’s been inconsistent since he was promoted to the UFC. He’s a technically skilled boxer, but his defensive wrestling and grappling has proven to be a massive hole in his overall game. He is 4-4 in the UFC, coming off back-to-back wins via decision. This should be a fun and competitive scrap in which both fighters have a quality shot to score a win. Still, I do see Van as the side. I expect he can win this fight on the scorecards. Joshua Van by Decision
Main Card- Starts 10:00pm EST
Abdul Razak Alhassan -170 vs Cody Brundage +145
- Anthony: The main card begins with middleweights Cody Brundage and Abdul Razak Alhassan. This is not a very high-level fight and I find it hard to trust either one of these men fighting at elevation. Alhassan is an explosive fighter that relies on his power to end fights. I expect Alhassan to load up early with his right hand and look to hurt Brundage with his boxing. His striking volume is not very high but when Alhassan does connect it usually results in a knockdown. Brundage has heavy hands too, but he cannot compete with Alhassan in a technical kickboxing match. Brundage will need to apply pressure to Alhassan early and make this an ugly fight in order to win. The former collegiate wrestler certainly has the edge grappling here against the judo black belt. Alhassan’s strong upper body and thick legs give him above average takedown defense but we have seen him really struggle in fights when he is wrestled down to the mat. Brundage can push a much faster pace early and put Alhassan into a situation where his offensive output is negated. I would never recommend betting a quitter like Brundage but getting plus money can tempt me in this spot. These guys both have six professional losses and have done nothing lately to impress me. I figure that Brundage is very live here, facing a 38 year old who struggles to perform even when fighting at sea level. Cody Brundage by Round Two Submission
- Nick: Abdul Razak Alhassan is a physical specimen with massive power in his punches, All twelve of his professional wins have come via KO. He has a solid judo base and decent grappling ability, but his questionable cardio/conditioning has prevented him from leaning on that part of his game. I’m encouraged by Alhassan’s recent move to Elevation Fight Team, an excellent fight camp out of Denver. Training at a high elevation in thinner air should help improve his cardio moving forward. Cody Brundage has a powerful wrestling base and he does a good job pouring damage on his opponents if he can find himself in top position. He can be dangerous on the feet, but he telegraphs most of his strikes and recently it seems his cardio has become a major weakness. He is 10-6 professionally and coming off a loss to Bo Nickal at UFC 300. These are two inconsistent fighters and they’re also both extremely aggressive. This is a volatile match-up, but I slightly prefer Alhassan as I expect he’s more likely to find a KO if he can keep this fight standing. Abdul Razak Alhassan by Round One KO
Christian Rodriguez -230 vs Julian Erosa +185
- Anthony: Next is a featherweight matchup between Christian Rodriguez and Julian Erosa. We have not seen any stellar performances yet from Ceerod but the 26 year old looks like a solid contender here in this division. Formerly a bantamweight, Rodriguez seems healthier at 145 pounds and more likely to implement his gameplans effectively. He has won four straight fights, showcasing intelligent striking defense and good composure when bouts hit the mat. While Rodriguez is not a power threat I could see him finding a knockdown here against a chinny opponent like Erosa. While Erosa will be frantically moving forward and attacking Rodriguez, we should see much more fundamental striking coming from the Roufusport product. I figure Rodriguez will work off of his back foot here, consistently landing offense and allowing Erosa to walk onto his counter punches. Erosa’s gritty style could end up winning out as this fight goes late, but I find it hard betting him at +185. Rather than roll the dice on a volatile fighter like Erosa I’d rather side with the more consistent and risk averse favorite. Christian Rodriguez by Decision
- Nick: Christian Rodriguez is primarily a striker. He’s capable of utilizing a grappling heavy gameplan in certain match-ups, but he seems most comfortable exchanging on the feet. He has decent BJJ both offensively and defensively, which was evident in each of his most recent wins over highly regarded prospects in Raul Rosas Jr., Cameron Saaiman, and most recently Isaac Dulgarian. He is 11-1 professionally and 4-1 in the UFC. At just 26-years old he’s certainly a prospect to keep an eye on. Julian Erosa is well rounded, with thirteen professional wins by submission as well as eleven by knockout. His greatest quality as a fighter may be his willingness to eat shots to throw them. He’s very game and gritty, but his durability has been in question at times as eight of his eleven professional losses have come via KO. Rodriguez is the better technical fighter in this match-up and he’s going to have a considerable cardio advantage. Erosa could keep things close, but I do expect Rodriguez can finish him within three rounds. Christian Rodriguez by Round Three KO
Gabriel Bonfim -350 vs Ange Loosa +275
- Anthony: This is a bout at welterweight between Ange Loosa and Gabriel Bonfim. Both men are looking to bounce back with wins here after their most recent octagon showings. Loosa’s last fight was ruled a no contest after he suffered an eye poke facing Bryan Battle. It was evident that Loosa was losing that fight and he seemingly elected to take the easy way out by claiming that foul. I never thought very highly of Loosa as he is not a threatening athlete or the most entertaining to watch. He engages with opponents on the feet but does not hit too hard or push forward with an unbelievable pace. Bonfim is comfortable striking but his best work tends to be when fights hit the mat. He was finished in his last fight after being forced to strike with Nicolas Dalby. Bonfim will want to score an early takedown here to again put his jiu jitsu on full display. He has attempted at least one submission in each of his UFC fights. Bonfim also has twelve professional wins by way of submission. Loosa has never been finished before but he was well on his way to a stoppage in that last octagon appearance. It would not surprise me if Bonfim submits him here. This fight will sway into Loosa’s favor the longer that it goes. Gabriel Bonfim by Round One Submission
- Nick: Ange Loosa telegraphs many of his strikes and his footwork is far from refined, but his athleticism and overall explosiveness allows him to find success in exchanges. Loosa lands more than five significant strikes per minute. He’s a decent grappler and strong for the division, but his cardio has been somewhat questionable. He is 2-1-1 in the UFC, coming off a controversial No Contest in which he quit after an accidental eye poke by Bryan Battle. It’s worth noting, Battle was dominating Loosa in that fight prior to the eye poke. Gabriel Bonfim is an aggressive fighter and a potent finisher no matter where his fights go. Twelve of his fifteen professional wins have come via submission and the other three have come by knockout. He’s an explosive striker who sometimes leaves himself there to be countered, but his speed and ability to roll with powerful strikes have him a class ahead on the feet of a majority of this division. His wrestling is decent, but he has outstanding BJJ. He’s a submission over position grappler and it’s very rare he doesn’t aggressively pursue finishes if he can drag his opponent to the mat. As talented as he is, his cardio is a major concern. He was dominating his last fight against Nicolas Dalby before he completely gassed out, and if he can’t find an early finish here there is a decent chance he suffers a similar fate – especially with this fight taking place in Denver at elevation. The line is too wide here and Bonfim’s cardio is of major concern. However, I expect he can finish Loosa before it becomes an issue. Gabriel Bonfim by Round One KO
Jean Silva -110 vs Drew Dober -110
- Anthony: The featured bout is a matchup at lightweight between Drew Dober and Jean Silva. This is a frontrunner for Fight of the Night and one of the scraps I am most looking forward to. Silva is coming off a win just two weeks ago when he finished Charles Jourdain at UFC 303. The Brazilian has been very active the past year, winning both of his first promotional appearances and really showcasing a unique style in the cage. Silva is a very aggressive fighter that does well moving forward and pressuring his opponents. He trains with a great team at Fighting Nerds and works to quickly build a lead in each fight that he is in. He is moving up for this bout at 155 pounds but Silva will not cede much size to Dober. However, I am not confident that Silva’s power will translate the same here up another ten pounds. Dober has a granite chin and some of the heaviest hands at lightweight. From the southpaw stance I think he can give Silva a lot of trouble and stop his forward attack as heavy counters begin to land. If this fight is largely contested at boxing range, Dober should get the better of Silva with more power shots finding their home. The matchup is lined as a pick ‘em for good reason, but I trust Dober to get the job done here today. Drew Dober by Round Two KO
- Nick: Drew Dober throws extremely powerful and precise strikes, his timing is excellent offensively, and the power in his counters make him a threat against almost anyone on the feet. As dangerous as Dober is standing, his grappling ability leaves a lot to be desired. Four of his seven UFC losses have come via submission. He has notable KO wins over Bobby Green, Rafael Alves, and Nasrat Haqparast, but he is coming off a loss via decision to a tough out in Renato Moicano. Jean Silva is 13-2 professionally, 27-years old, and fighting out of an excellent camp via Fighting Nerds in Brazil. Silva is relatively well-rounded with ten wins coming via KO and two coming via submission. Silva has a flashy style, but it’s relatively intelligent. He does a good job throwing feints to bait his opponents into power shots, and his durability and cardio have been strengths for him up to to this point in his career. Silva is taking this fight on short notice, coming off a KO win over Charles Jourdain just two weeks prior to this match-up with Dober. This is a volatile matchup that is very likely to end by knockout. I prefer the Dober size as the bigger and more experienced fighter, fighting in front of his home crowd. Drew Dober by Round One KO
Santiago Ponzinibbio -190 vs Muslim Salikhov +150
- Anthony: The co-main event comes at welterweight with Muslim Salikhov set to face Santiago Ponzinibbio. I struggle to get excited for this matchup with both athletes nearing the end of their career. Ponzinibbio is 37 years old and on a pretty tough losing skid. The only recent win for Ponzinibbio came in a fight against Alex Morono that saw him lose more than ten minutes of action. Ponzinibbio is still a crisp striker with fast boxing but his combinations have become shorter and less precise with age. Ponzinibbio is also starting to fade more quickly in his fights with dwindling offensive output in rounds two and three. The good news is that this matchup comes against an opponent older, slower and with even worse cardio. Salikhov is 40 and he has only won a single fight since 2021. The King of Kung Fu averages just 3.36 significant strikes landed per minute. He is often too reliant on the big one landing. It would not be at all surprising to see Salikhov starch Ponzinibbio today, but the more likely outcome is he will be the first to fall. Ponzinibbio should build an early lead here and Salikhov does not respond well to adversity. I would be very surprised to see this matchup go the full fifteen minutes. Santiago Ponzinibbio by Round Two KO
- Nick: Muslim Salikhov is an excellent striker with a solid chin and a lot of power behind his shots. He’s a former kickboxer and fairly one-dimensional, but he’s good enough on the feet to hang with almost anyone in the division. He throws a wide-range of diverse strikes, including a lot of spinning attacks and high kicks. He recently changed camps to the American Top Team to focus more on his wrestling. He’s still dangerous offensively, but there is no denying that he has been slowing down at 39-years old, as one of the older fighters in the division. Ponzinibbio was the class of this division before he was forced to miss more than two years with an extensive list of injuries. He is coming off a KO loss to Kevin Holland, and he’s dropped three of his last four fights. He is 37 years-old and he has been out of action since April of 2023. Both of these fighters are past their respective primes, but Salikhov seems a bit further past his. I’ll side with Ponzinibbio to land more frequently and with more power. Santiago Ponzinibbio by Round Two KO
Rose Namajunas -230 vs Tracy Cortez +185
- Anthony: The main event is a women’s flyweight bout between Tracy Cortez and Rose Namajunas. Cortez is stepping in on relatively short notice here after Rose was originally slated to face Maycee Barber this evening. Namajunas is a big step up in competition for Cortez who is undefeated through her five appearances in the UFC. We have seen Cortez largely find success thanks to her offensive wrestling and high level top game. She shut down the grappling attack of Jasmine Jasudavicius when she last fought at UFC Noche. Cortez has scored at least two takedowns in each of her other appearances. I think she may find success grappling here against Namajunas but it is hard to imagine her securing dominant position for a majority of these five rounds. Namajunas has been training hard for this main event while Cortez may not be as well prepared. She has never gone five rounds before and I doubt she can fight as effectively as Namajunas here in the third, fourth and fifth. Namajunas also trains in Colorado which should give her an edge fighting Cortez at elevation. She is the better striker than Cortez and sizes up well against her as a flyweight. Namajunas will win most of these minutes from range with her footwork and superior offensive striking. I would have considered fading Rose at these odds if the bout were only scheduled for three rounds. Rose Namajunas by Decision
- Nick: Rose Namajunas is extremely quick when throwing combinations, carries surprising power for her frame and does an excellent job baiting her opponents into strikes. She has dangerous BJJ offensively and her wrestling continues to improve. As talented as she is, she’s been building a reputation as an inconsistent fighter. Tracy Cortez comes into this fight on an eleven fight win streak. She has notable UFC Wins over Stephanie Egger, Melissa Gatto, and most recently Jasmine Jasudavicius. She’s fairly well-rounded, but her greatest strength is certainly her grappling ability. She has a solid wrestling base, impressive ground-and-pound and she averages nearly three successful takedowns per fifteen minutes. She trains out of an excellent camp in Fight Ready, and she’s taking this fight on short notice as a replacement for Maycee Barber. The line feels wide here as Cortez is going to be very dangerous if this fight hits the mat. That being said, I’m not confident her wrestling is quality enough to take it there consistently. Namajunas is the better technical fighter here and she’s found success against a much higher level of opponent. Additionally, she’ll be fighting in front of her home crowd here, she has five round experience, and I expect she’ll be better acclimated to the elevation. Rose Namajunas by Round Four KO
-Nick Marro
Twitter: @NickMarroDFS
-Anthony Marro
Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_
Photo: UFC.com