This weekend’s UFC Fight Night takes place at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The main event features former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas taking on Tracy Cortez in the women’s flyweight division. Also on the main card, Santiago Ponzinibbio takes on Muslim Salikhov in a welterweight bout, while Drew Dober battles Jean Silva in the lightweight division. Other notable fights include Gabriel Bonfim vs. Ange Loosa and Julian Erosa vs. Christian Rodriguez.
Main Event: Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez
Rose Namajunas
- Record: 12-6
- Fighting Out Of: Denver, Colorado
- Style: Striking and grappling
Tracy Cortez
- Record: 11-1
- Fighting Out Of: Phoenix, Arizona
- Style: Wrestling and striking
Last Three Fights
Rose Namajunas
- Amanda Ribas (March 23, 2024) – Win by UD
- Manon Fiorot (September 2, 2023) – Loss by UD
- Carla Esparza (May 7, 2022) – Loss by SD
Tracy Cortez
- Jasmine Jasudavicius (September 16, 2023) – Win by UD
- Melissa Gatto (May 7, 2022) – Win by UD
- Justine Kish (April 17, 2021) – Win by SD
Matchup Analysis
Striking
- Namajunas: Striking precision and knockout power, especially with kicks.
- Cortez: Uses her striking to set up takedowns and control the fight.
Grappling
- Namajunas: Strong grappler with submission skills. She has multiple victories by submission and is tough, as well.
- Cortez: Excellent wrestler with a strong ground game. She excels in maintaining top control and wearing down opponents with her grappling skills.
X-Factor
- Namajunas: Experience in high-stakes fights and her ability to perform under pressure. Her knockout power and submission skills make her dangerous in every round.
- Cortez: Her wrestling will be the key to neutralizing Namajunas. If she can impose her grappling game, she will control the fight and win rounds.
Prediction
Clash of styles. Namajunas’s versatility makes her dangerous. Cortez’s wrestling could be the deciding factor if she manages to control Namajunas on the ground. If Namajunas can keep the fight standing, she has a stronger chance of winning either by decision or knockout. Can Rose keep up her usual intensity for 25 minutes? Judges won’t get to go home early. Five rounds favors the experience in this one. Rose takes the decision in a very high level and competitive fight.
Drew Dober vs. Jean Silva
drew dober
- Record: 27-13
- Fighting Out Of: Denver, Colorado
- Style: Striker with strong knockout power
jean silva
- Record: 13-2
- Fighting Out Of: São Paulo, Brazil
- Style: Versatile fighter with a blend in grappling and striking
Last Three Fights
DREW DOBER
- Renato Moicano (February 3, 2024) – Loss by UD
- Ricky Glenn (October 7, 2023) – Win by TKO
- Matt Frevola (May 6, 2023) – Loss by TKO
JEAN SILVA
- Charles Jourdain (June 29, 2024) – Win by TKO
- Westin Wilson (January 13, 2024) – Win by TKO
- Kevin Vallejos (September 5, 2023) – Win by UD
Matchup Analysis
Striking
- Dober: Southpaw with powerful striking and knockout ability.
- Silva: Strong striker with a good striking rate.
Grappling
- Dober: Solid grappling skills to defend against takedowns and submissions.
- Silva: A versatile fighter with effective grappling, evidenced by his submission victories.
X-Factor
- Dober: His experience and knockout power make him a dangerous opponent
- Silva: His ability to finish fights both on the feet and on the ground makes him a threat
Prediction
Both fighters bring strong striking to the octagon. Dober’s experience and knockout power could be enough if he can keep the fight standing and land significant strikes. Silva is on a winning streak and can mix his striking with grappling effectively. The outcome might depend on who can handle the other’s power better. This is a short notice matchup, where unpredictability can play a significant role, giving the edge to Silva.
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