The UFC returned to altitude as women’s flyweights Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez headlined UFC Denver which took place on July 13, inside Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
UFC Women’s flyweights Rose Namajunas (14-6-0) and Tracy Cortez (11-2-0) took the main stage at UFC Denver inside Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The two competed in a hard-fought five-round contest showcasing the pair’s technical striking and grappling.
UFC Denver Main Event: Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez
Looking at the fight, Namajunas approached this main event fight precisely as she needed to. The former women’s strawweight champion found an early rhythm in the standup game, landing an emphatic punch that sent Cortez crashing to the canvas in the first round.
The difference from the previous competition was evident in the fight, as Namajunas was never threatened throughout the entire fight duration.
Cortez was outclassed in the striking and grappling departments. She went 2 for five on takedown attempts, compared to Namajunas’ perfect 5 for five.
Namajunas also outstruck Cortez 96 to 58 on significant strikes over 25 minutes, making for an overall masterclass performance from the former champion.
Cortez started to show flashes of a winning formula towards the latter half of the fight. However, it was too late as Namajunas secured a unanimous decision victory.
Namajunas spoke to the media after the fight and gave her take on her performance in the five-round main event against Cortez. Click here to watch Namajunas talk to the press via ‘MMA Junkie’ on YouTube.
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov
Older welterweights competed in UFC Denver’s co-main event slot as Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-8-0) and Muslim Salikhov (20-5-0) took to the octagon and fought hard over three rounds.
Looking at the fight, the two mixed martial arts veterans came into this fight with chips on their shoulders as they both came off stoppage losses.
The 40-year-old Salikhov shocked many fight fans by displaying impressive cardio over three rounds at altitude. He was able to land the more effective, cleaner strikes on the feet.
Salikhov started the fight by landing heavy body kicks, which left red marks all over Ponzinibbio’s torso.
Salikhov’s arsenal of spinning attacks ultimately forced Ponzinibbio to shoot for takedowns over the three rounds. Ponzinibbio went 2 for five on takedown attempts and was outstruck by the kung-fu fighter out of Russia.
Realizing he was being outlanded on the feet, Ponzinibbio implemented late takedowns. However, these late efforts came to no avail, as Salikhov was announced as the winner via a split decision after three rounds.
Drew Dober vs. Jean Silva
UFC Denver’s most anticipated fight entirely delivered the goods as lightweight Drew Dober (27-14-0, 1NC) and featherweight Jean Silva (14-2-0) fought at 155 pounds on short notice.
Silva came into this fight having just recently finished featherweight Charles Jourdain via second-round knockout back at UFC 303. The hard-hitting Brazilian missed weight for that fight, leading to him taking this short-notice lightweight matchup against the fan-favorite Dober.
I had noted Silva’s hand speed advantage in the striking department, and that is what ultimately won Silva the fight, as the power puncher consistently landed concrete counter-punches on the incoming Dober.
Contrary to my prediction, Dober could not weather Silva’s early storm. Instead, Silva opened a massive gash on Dober’s right eyebrow, marking a significant turn of events in the fight.
This cut would be Dober’s demise, as referee Herb Dean was forced to call in the ringside physician to get his verdict on the cut. To no spectator’s surprise, the physician showed little to no hesitation in calling a halt to the action, as the gash was extremely deep.
Silva was announced as the winner via third-round TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage).
Other Fights on UFC Denver
Main Card:
- (170 lbs.) Gabriel Bonfim (16-1-0) vs. Ange Loosa (10-4-0, 1NC): Bonfim via Decision
- (145 lbs.) Julian Erosa (30-12-0) vs. Christian Rodriguez (11-2-0): Erosa via Sub R1
- (185 lbs.) Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-6-0, 1NC) vs. Cody Brundage (10-6-0, 1NC): Fight ruled no-contest
Prelims:
- (W 125 lbs.) Jasmine Jasudavicius (11-3-0) vs. Fatima Kline (6-1-0): Jasudavicius via Decision
- (125 lbs.) Joshua Van (10-2-0) vs. Charles Johnson (16-6-0): Johnson via TKO/KO R3
- (W 125 lbs.) Luana Santos (8-1-0) vs. Mariya Agapova (10-5-0): Santos via Sub R1
- (185 lbs.) Josh Fremd (11-6-0) vs. Andre Petroski (11-4-0): Petroski via Decision
- (135 lbs.) Montel Jackson (14-2-0) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (14-7-1): Jackson via TKO/KO R1
- (170 lbs.) Evan Elder (9-2-0) vs. Darrius Flowers (12-8-1): Elder via Sub R2
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