The UFC returns to Denver, Colorado, inside Ball Arena as women’s flyweights Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez take center stage in the featured five-round main event slot.
Click here to see No. 8-ranked UFC welterweight Sean Brady (16-1-0) and unranked UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer (13-3-0) give their breakdowns and predictions for UFC Denver via ‘TheBradyBagzShow’ on ‘SteadyPicks‘ YouTube channel.
Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez
UFC Denver’s main event features former women’s strawweight champion and No. 6-ranked women’s flyweight Rose Namajunas (13-7-0) continuing her pursuit of flyweight gold as she faces No. 11-ranked Tracy Cortez (11-1-0) in a five-round bout.
Namajunas was initially scheduled to face No. 4-ranked Maycee Barber. However, Barber withdrew from the contest.
Looking at the matchup, Namajunas holds advantages in experience, competition, and striking. When I look at Cortez’s resume, I struggle to compare any of the names to those of Namajunas’s last five opponents.
Banking names like Wheili Zhang, Manon Fiorot, Amanda Ribas, and Carla Esparza hold a different level of merit compared to the opponents Cortez has faced.
Namajunas’ last fight saw her defeat Ribas via Decision on UFC Vegas 89 back in March.
Cortez’s best path to victory in this fight is to make it dirty and close the distance on the former champion Namajunas. Utilizing the clinch, shooting for takedowns, and mixing in dirty boxing could serve the younger, less-experienced fighter a lot in this particular matchup, countering Namajunas’ strengths.
On the contrary, if Namajunas can bounce around the cage, picking and popping selective shots on a stationary Cortez, I see an easy five-round decision coming for Namajunas. The former champion has many tools to choose from when competing in the standup game.
Prediction: Namajunas via Decision
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov
UFC Denver’s co-main event features two welterweights looking to return to their winning ways as Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-7-0) and Muslim Salikhov (19-5-0) cross paths in a three-rounder.
These unranked welterweights, both coming off significant stoppage losses, are set to enter this fight with a strong determination to prove themselves.
Ponzinibbio last appeared in the UFC octagon against Kevin Holland back on UFC 287 in April 2023. Ponzinibbio looked good throughout the first ten minutes of the fight; however, after one clean left hook sent the Argentinian faceplanting down to the canvas.
As for Salikhov, he last appeared under the UFC banner against the lean and skilled Randy Brown back in February. Salikhov kept the striking close with Brown throughout the first two minutes; however, a massive straight right hand from Brown sent Salikhov down to the canvas, resulting in a first-round finish.
That said, Ponzinibbio holds the advantage in this fight as he has fought the better competition, is younger, and took more time off after their most recent stoppage loss.
At 40 years old, Salikhov is practically left with no other option but to return reasonably quickly to the cage as his time in mixed martial arts is nearing the end. I see Ponzinibbio finding a home for leg kicks and his jab over this three-rounder.
While Salikhov is not expected to be completely outclassed, Ponzinibbio’s cleaner and more effective shots are likely to secure him a clear victory over three rounds.
Prediction: Ponzinibbio via Decision
Drew Dober vs. Jean Silva
UFC Denver’s most explosive matchup is between lightweight Drew Dober (27-13-0, 1NC) and featherweight Jean Silva (13-2-0). These two ferocious strikers are set to deliver a potential ‘fight of the year’ candidate, promising an electrifying showdown for fight fans.
Dober was initially set to face fellow lightweight Mike Davis. However, Davis withdrew from the about.
Looking at the stylistic clash between the two, I believe that Silva holds the speed advantage over Dober, the older, more experienced veteran. However, Dober’s history of slugfests and ability to bite down on the mouthguard, combined with his constant pressure, make me confident in picking him.
It is also worth elaborating that Silva is typically a featherweight fighter but failed to make the 146-pound limit in his last fight against Charles Jourdain. Putting the weight miss aside, Silva looked amazing in that fight, scoring a deafening second-round knockout over Jourdain with an uppercut while initiating the clinch.
Realistically, if Silva fails to finish Dober within the first seven to eight minutes of the fight, he is surely in trouble, as Dober will likely continue pressuring with hard body-head combinations.
My prediction is that Dober will weather the initial storm of Silva’s striking prowess, then rise to the challenge in the later stages of the fight. I foresee Dober securing a memorable victory over Silva with a series of punches in the final round.
Prediction: Dober via TKO/KO R3
Other Fights on UFC Denver
Main Card:
- (170 lbs.) Gabriel Bonfim (15-1-0) vs. Ange Loosa (10-3-0, 1NC): Bonfim via Sub R3
- (145 lbs.) Julian Erosa (29-12-0) vs. Christian Rodriguez (11-1-0): Rodriguez via Decision
- (185 lbs.) Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-6-0) vs. Cody Brundage (10-6-0): Alhassan via TKO/KO R1
Prelims:
- (W 125 lbs.) Jasmine Jasudavicius (10-3-0) vs. Fatima Kline (6-0-0): Jasudavicius via Decision
- (125 lbs.) Joshua Van (10-1-0) vs. Charles Johnson (15-6-0): Van via Decision
- (W 125 lbs.) Luana Santos (7-1-0) vs. Mariya Agapova (10-4-0): Santos via Sub R1
- (185 lbs.) Josh Fremd (11-5-0) vs. Andre Petroski (10-4-0): Petroski via Sub R2
- (135 lbs.) Montel Jackson (13-2-0) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (14-6-1): Jackson via Decision
- (170 lbs.) Evan Elder (8-2-0) vs. Darrius Flowers (12-7-1): Elder via Decision
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