UFC Denver Outcomes: Winners And Losers From Namajunas Vs. Cortez Card

Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas cruised to a choice win over Tracy Cortez in entrance of a sold-out crowd at Ball Area in Namajunas’ adopted hometown of Denver, Colorado.

The UFC had initially booked Namajunas to face Maycee Barber in the primary occasion of the UFC Denver combat card, however Barber was unable to compete as a result of well being points. That led to Tracy Cortez, who was coaching for a July 20 combat on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, stepping up on brief discover to face Namajunas.

Cortez, who had by no means fought in a UFC headliner earlier than, put forth a robust effort however fell brief. Cortez lacked the expertise to beat Namajunas’ strategy to the combat. She and her workforce couldn’t give you the changes wanted to get by her extra savvy foe.

Namajunas was poised and affected person all through the 25-minute contest. She used pace, motion, and selective strain to attain all through the matchup. The ex-champ was particularly efficient in scoring with straight punches and likewise confirmed a willingness to combat Cortez at her personal recreation, selecting up takedowns with relative ease. Namajunas applied her recreation plan nicely, and Cortez’s incapacity to regulate allowed her to stay to that plan for 25 minutes.

After the win, her second in three fights at 125 kilos, Namajunas referred to as for a title combat. I am uncertain if she’ll get that, contemplating she was ranked No. 6 within the official UFC women’s flyweight rankings heading into final evening’s matchup and that Cortez was No. 11. Namajunas wants a win over a fighter who’s ranked increased than her, somebody who can strain her and drive her into uncomfortable spots. Cortez was not that opponent.

Under, we have a look at the UFC Denver outcomes, winners and losers, in addition to remaining official scorecards.

UFC Denver Winners

Rose Namajunas: Rose Namajunas regarded superb in selecting up a transparent unanimous resolution win over Tracy Cortez in the primary occasion of final evening’s UFC Denver combat card.

Namajunas was affected person and poised all through the 25-minute contest, scoring with straight punches whereas going five-for-five on takedowns and racking up greater than six minutes in management time.

Namajunas’ protection performed a big position in her victory. She used footwork and motion to stop Cortez from touchdown many important strikes, limiting her opponent to a 29 p.c touchdown price all through the combat whereas connecting on 53 p.c of her tried important strikes.

Namajunas maintained management of each side of the combat over the primary 4 rounds. Cortez solely managed to achieve some floor within the remaining spherical when the previous 115-pound champion adopted a extra defensive technique.

Namajunas had an excellent displaying on Saturday evening.

Muslim Salikhov: Muslim Salikhov’s resolution to get to Denver to acclimate to the altitude paid off on Saturday when he picked up a split-decision win over Santiago Ponzinibbio.

Salikhov was extra energetic and correct in his hanging. Exterior of the primary spherical, he didn’t permit Ponzinibbio to manage the vary and tempo of the combat, which went a great distance towards getting the judges to see issues his manner.

Jean Silva: Jean Silva took an opportunity. After knocking out Charles Jourdain in late June, the 27-year-old moved as much as light-weight to face hard-hitting Drew Dober on the primary card of UFC Denver. That probability paid off when Silva picked up a third-round TKO win over Dober.

Silva won’t have had the facility of his opponent, however he had a pace benefit and the power to counter Dober nicely.Silva’s spinning strategies and elbows did quite a lot of harm, leaving Dober with a large gash over his proper eyebrow, which led to the combat being stopped late within the third stanza.

Silva is 3-0 since he joined the UFC with all his wins coming by knockout. Every of these victories has are available in 2024.

Gabriel Bonfim: Coming off his first profession loss, Gabriel Bonfim had a bounce-back efficiency in Denver, utilizing his hanging abilities and skill to get off the mat to choose up a choice win over Ange Loosa.

Loosa’s technique was to maintain Bonfim in shut, nullify his hanging, and take the combat to the mat. Nevertheless, Bonfim landed heavy knees within the clinch, stayed off the mat, and used his jab within the third spherical to maintain Loosa at bay. All of which helped him decide up the choice win.

Saturday’s win was the primary time Bonfim went the space as a professional.

Julian Erosa: There was not quite a lot of protection within the early going of the featherweight battle between Julian Erosa and Christian Rodriguez as each males scored early within the first spherical, nevertheless it was Rodriguez main the dance with Erosa countering.

Nevertheless, the momentum of the combat went on to Erosa’s benefit the minute the rivals hit the bottom late within the stanza, with Erosa easily taking management and selecting up a late guillotine choke submission.

Charles Johnson: Charles Johnson struggled with the aggression and tempo of Joshua Van within the first 10 minutes of their flyweight scrap. Maybe needing a end to win the combat, Johnson got here out quick within the third stanza and picked up a nasty knockout win within the opening moments of the ultimate stanza.

Johnson went 1-3 in 2023 underneath the UFC banner. He’s 3-0 with the promotion in 2024.

Jasmine Jasudavicius: Jasmine Jasudavicius had loads to lose on Saturday, dealing with a much-hyped Fatima Kline on brief discover. Jasudavicius picked up a unanimous resolution win within the flyweight contest.

Jasudavicius solely had a one-inch top and attain benefit over her opponent. She made these benefits look extra pronounced because of her pace, footwork, means to manage vary, and getting off first together with her strikes. Jasudavicius additionally discovered Kline struggled to get off the mat after Jasudavicius obtained the combat to the bottom.

Montel Jackson: Moments after UFC commentator informed viewers to look at the punches of Montel Jackson, Jackson uncorked a left that caught Da’Mon Blackshear stepping in, presumably to throw a kick or knee. There was no want for a follow-up strike as Jackson ended the combat 18 seconds into the opening spherical.

With the win, Jackson is on a five-fight successful streak underneath the UFC banner. He has not misplaced since Brett Johns defeated him in 2020. Jackson has solely fought as soon as per 12 months since 2022.

Luana Santos: Luana Santos made issues look straightforward on Saturday in selecting up a submission win over Mariya Agapova in Denver. She used her hanging, judo and floor abilities to dominate Agapova.

Santos is 3-0 within the UFC with two stoppage victories, and on a five-fight general successful streak.

Andre Petroski: Andre Petroski ended a two-fight shedding skid on Saturday by way of his wrestling abilities and heavy high recreation on the mat. Petroski had no drawback scoring early takedowns in every spherical on his option to a choice win over Josh Fremd. As soon as the combat hit the mat, Petroski patiently regarded for openings for submissions whereas stopping Fremd from discovering a manner off the bottom.

The combat won’t have been thrilling, however coming into it with two losses, any win is an effective win for Petroski, who mentioned after the combat that he did not wish to take dangers towards Fremd.

Evan Elder: After a troublesome begin to his UFC profession with two losses, Evan Elder is on a two-fight successful streak after submitting Darrius Flowers within the opening combat on the UFC Denver card.

This was a short-notice combat, signed earlier this week, however Elder regarded superb in defeating Flowers, who ran out of gasoline earlier than the top of the primary spherical. Elder confirmed good combat IQ in making the most of a compromised opponent. His hanging was energetic, and he blended up strategies and targets nicely.

UFC Denver Losers

Tracy Cortez: Tracy Cortez was a recreation opponent towards Rose Namajunas however lacked the abilities and expertise to beat the previous UFC strawweight champion.

Cortez and her workforce couldn’t work out the right way to take care of Namajunas’ strategy over the 25-minute bout. The loss might be a studying expertise for Cortez, who had by no means fought in a UFC major occasion earlier than Saturday evening.

Santiago Ponzinibbio: Within the first spherical of their UFC Denver co-main occasion, Santiago Ponzinibbio did an excellent job of lowering Muslim Salikhov’s time and area, however he didn’t follow that strategy within the subsequent two rounds, and that damage him.

The concern about Ponzinibbio forward of this combat was that he can be too aggressive and create openings for his opponent’s hanging. That did not occur, however Ponzinnibio might have been extra energetic in his hanging. Had he thrown extra, he may need been in a position to sway the judges.

Ponzinibbio is 1-4 in his previous 5 outings and 2-5 relationship again to January 2021.

Drew Dober: Drew Dober may need been on the fallacious finish of a TKO on Saturday, however his all motion model will maintain him on the UFC roster for some time. Jean Silva used his pace to place quite a lot of harm on Dober in Denver, however Dober by no means stopped transferring ahead whereas seeking to rating along with his energy.

Ange Loosa: Ange Loosa regarded like his recreation plan towards Gabriel Bonfim was to make use of his jab to arrange takedowns and dominate the combat on the mat. That wasn’t a flawed concept, however Loosa couldn’t management the combat on the bottom, and his hanging didn’t do sufficient harm to attain on the ft. The choice loss ended a three-fight unbeaten streak for Loosa.

Dominick Cruz: UFC commentator Dominick Cruz didn’t say that he thought Cody Brundage was faking his incapacity to proceed after Abdul Razak Alhassan landed unlawful blows to the again of his head, however he closely implied that. Cruz’s opinion on what a fighter is bodily feeling is unimportant in a state of affairs like that. Cruz must study when it’s proper or fallacious to supply his opinion, particularly in terms of a possible head/mind damage.

Joshua Van: Joshua Van had an excellent 10 minutes towards Charles Johnson, utilizing his aggression and energy to rack up factors on the scorecards. Nevertheless, Van didn’t appear ready to take care of Johnson beginning the third stanza searching for a knockout, which he obtained.

Fatima Kline: A two-division Cage Fury champion, 24-year-old Fatima Kline made her UFC debut on Saturday towards the extra skilled Jasmine Jasudavicius. The combat was a short-notice one for Kline.

Kline didn’t present any Octagon jitters within the matchup, however she struggled to steer the dance on the ft and had quite a lot of bother getting off the mat after Jasudavicius scored takedowns.

Kline confirmed coronary heart in searching for a stoppage win within the third spherical when she was down 2-0 on the scorecards, however she couldn’t discover the mark.

Kline has solely had seven professional fights, and with this one approaching brief discover at elevation, it’s arduous to get a full grasp on her upside. Nevertheless, many revered MMA pundits really feel she will discover success within the UFC. It will likely be fascinating to see what she will do with a full camp towards an unranked opponent at 115 kilos as an alternative of 125.

Mariya Agapova: Getting back from almost two years of inactivity, Agapova didn’t have a lot to supply Luana Santos, who simply submitted Agapova within the first spherical.

With the loss, Agapova fell to 1-4 relationship again to August 2020. Her one win throughout that stretch was an October 2021 submission over Sabina Mazo, who’s not with the UFC.

Josh Fremd: Josh Fremd regarded unprepared for the wrestling abilities of Andre Petroski, who averaged 4.32 takedowns per minute heading into this matchup. That lack of takedown protection value him dearly, as he spent virtually all the combat on his again on the mat.

Darrius Flowers: Darrius Flowers ran out of gasoline after 5 minutes in Denver. In keeping with the UFC commentary workforce, Flowers informed his workforce that he couldn’t breathe after the primary spherical. Not lengthy after that, Evan Elder submitted Flowers.

Flowers did the UFC a favor by accepting this bout throughout combat week, however with an 0-3 file within the UFC, he may need seen his final UFC motion.

Neither

Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage: This brief combat ended with a no contest after Cody Brundage was unable to proceed after Abdul Razak Alhassan elbowed him to the again of the top.

UFC Denver Full Struggle Card

Predominant Card

Rose Namajunas defeats Tracy Cortez by way of unanimous resolution (49-26, 49-46, 47-48)

Muslim Salikhov defeats Santiago Ponzinibbio by way of break up resolution (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Jean Silva defeats Drew Dober by way of TKO at 1:28 of Spherical 3 (Physician stoppage as a result of lower above Dober’s eye)

Gabriel Bonfim defeats Ange Loosa by way of unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Julian Erosa defeats Christian Rodriguez by way of submission at 4:49 of Spherical 1 (Guillotine choke From guard)

Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage ends in a no contest at 0:37 of Spherical 1 (Unintended elbow to the again of the top)

Preliminary card

Charles Johnson defeats Joshua Van by way of knockout at 0:20 of Spherical 3 (Punch to move at distance)

Jasmine Jasudavicius defeats Fatima Kline by way of unanimous resolution (30-27 x 3)

Montel Jackson defeats Da’Mon Blackshear by way of knockout at 0:18 of Spherical 1 (Punch to move at distance)

Mariya Agapova defeats Luana Santos by way of submission at 3:27 of Spherical 1 (Rear-naked choke)

Andre Petroski defeats Josh Fremd by way of unanimous resolution (30-27 x 3)

Evan Elder defeats Darrius Flowers by way of submission at 1:46 of Spherical 2 (Arm triangle from facet management)

UFC Denver Struggle Evening Bonuses

Struggle of the Evening: Jean Silva vs. Drew Dober

Efficiency of the Evening: Charles Johnson

Efficiency of the Evening: Montel Jackson

UFC Denver Scorecards

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