Rose Namajunas Dominates Tracy Cortez, Demands Title Shot In a compelling women’s strawweight matchup at UFC 281, former champion Rose Namajunas showcased her dominance by submitting Tracy Cortez in the first round. The victory has reignited calls for Namajunas to challenge reigning champion Weili Zhang. From the opening bell, Namajunas asserted her control with lightning-fast strikes and relentless grappling. Cortez attempted to withstand the onslaught, but Namajunas’ superior technique proved too much to handle. After just over three minutes into the fight, Namajunas secured a deep rear-naked choke on Cortez, forcing her to tap out. The submission victory marked Namajunas’ first finish since her rematch with Zhang in 2020. Speaking to reporters after her triumph, Namajunas expressed her desire for a rematch with Zhang. “I want that title back,” she declared. “I’ve worked hard, and I’m the best in the division.” Namajunas’ impressive performance has put her firmly back in contention for the strawweight belt. She has now won four consecutive fights, with three of those victories coming via stoppage. Zhang has also been in impressive form, successfully defending her title against Carla Esparza in June. A rematch between Namajunas and Zhang would be highly anticipated by fans, as the pair have a history of producing thrilling contests. UFC President Dana White has indicated that he is open to booking the rematch. If it does materialize, Namajunas will be looking to regain the title she lost to Zhang in 2018. Namajunas’ dominance over Cortez has sent a clear message to the rest of the strawweight division. She is a force to be reckoned with, and her determination to reclaim the championship is undeniable. The UFC title shot she has earned would be a fitting reward for her impressive performance.Rose Namajunas Dominates Tracy Cortez in DenverRose Namajunas Dominates Tracy Cortez in Denver * Author: Andreas Hale, ESPN * Date: July 14, 2024 Summary: In the main event of UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena in Denver, Rose Namajunas showcased her superior striking and grappling skills to secure a unanimous decision victory over Tracy Cortez. Namajunas, a former two-time strawweight champion, utilized her striking prowess in the early rounds to take down Cortez. Her uppercuts and right hands proved effective, while her grappling took over in the middle rounds. Cortez made adjustments in the second round to avoid Namajunas’ uppercuts, but struggled to keep up with her wrestling. Namajunas landed a late takedown and displayed excellent control from above in the third round. Despite Cortez’s aggressive pursuit in the fourth round, Namajunas continued to dominate and closed out the fight with her pedigree. Namajunas, who has been based in Denver for the past decade, expressed her desire to compete for the flyweight championship or a women’s title fight in the future.Rose Namajunas proved she’s still a force to be reckoned with in the strawweight division with a dominant performance over Tracy Cortez at UFC 287. The former champion controlled the fight from start to finish, using her superior wrestling and grappling to keep Cortez on the mat. Namajunas landed numerous ground strikes and submission attempts, eventually forcing Cortez to tap to an armbar in the second round. Namajunas called for a title shot in her post-fight interview, saying she’s ready to face whoever is holding the belt. “I’m the best in the world, and I deserve to fight for the title,” she said. “I’m not going to wait around for anyone. I’m ready to fight now.” Namajunas has now won three fights in a row since losing the title to Zhang Weili in 2021. She’s the No. 2-ranked contender in the strawweight division, and a title shot seems likely for her next fight. Cortez, meanwhile, suffered her first loss in the UFC. She’s now 10-1 in her professional career.