Maycee Barber put health first when deciding to make a mark. The choice to pull the plug on her UFC Denver headliner against Rose Namajunas wasn’t an easy one. However, it had to happen anyway. Due to extended lingering issues with weight cuts, she made the move to flyweight. However, as it happens, there might still be some hiccups.
Part of the reason Barber moved up from being a strawweight is because weight cutting was starting to hurt her body. Currently, Maycee Barber is on a splendid six-fight winning streak. Her last performance was as recent as UFC 299: O’Malley vs. Vera 2, where she got the unanimous nod. Before that, her all-strike prowess at UFC on ABC 5 in Jacksonville won the hearts of fans.
Despite some lash-back from her losses, ‘The Future’ made her mark well; even the ‘Thug’ of strawweights called her out. Namajunas faced Amanda Ribas at UFC Vegas 89. Ribas, ranking #7 and #8 in official strawweight/flyweight listings, kept her options open. However, Rose Namajunas only eyes flyweight gold. The surging Barber seemed like a good challenge.
Now, the switch-stance striker out of Team Fort Collins Martial Arts could not make it to UFC Denver, aka UFC on ESPN 59 main event. She took the matter to socials (@mayceebarber) to address it.
Barber, 26, spoke of the limitations of a restrictive diet before her flyweight move at UFC Nashville. Usually operating on the smallest margins of restrictions and rigorous cutting, she says her camp was hellish. She has not cued in a timeline for a return. As for now, Tracy Cortez is the ‘it” girl to face ‘Thug Rose’
UFC June curse continues! Tracy Cortez to face Rose Namajunas in Denver headliner
The different blowouts and injuries were not to end so soon. June delivered one last kicker with Maycee Barber’s withdrawal from UFC Denver. Former UFC strawweight champ Rose Namajunas is now projected to face Tracy Cortez next. The fight was to remain the headliner of the UFC Fight Night event on July 13. However, that’s up for debate.
Maycee Barber out of UFC Denver, Rose Namajunas to get new setting, headliner or not (Source: X/IMAGO/nypost.com)MMA Mania and Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) for MMAFighting on SBN first reported the matter on Tuesday. Namajunas (12-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is a former titleholder and as big a name gets. However, she is 1-1 since her move up in the division. Hence, she drew Cortez to stay on the card in Denver.
Rose Namajunas is now targeted to fight Tracy Cortez in the main event of UFC Denver, multiple sources tell @DamonMartin and I. Story coming to @MMAFighting.
— Mike Heck (@MikeHeck_JR) June 26, 2024
I’m seeing Jasu’s name getting thrown around a lot. I like that, but also what about Tracy Cortez? Supposed to fight the next week and on a great run- deserved of a step up https://t.co/RMdH6eSwGb
— Daniel Vreeland (@GumbyVreeland) June 26, 2024
🚨| Maycee Barber has pulled out of her main event bout against Rose Namajunas at #UFCDenver due to undisclosed reasons. Tracy Cortez will now fight Namajunas in the main event on July 13th.
Cortez was already in training camp for a fight against Miranda Maverick that was… pic.twitter.com/fJu0oqm3PV
— Parry Punch (@ParryPunchNews) June 26, 2024
Namajunas and Barber fighting for a five-round had a specific backdrop. Talking to MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, she mentioned both of them training in similar circles in Colorado. Allegedly, the 26-year-old would spar and outrun opponents she defeated and throw it in her face. She liked the challenge but took issue with her father and coach, Bucky Barber, being disrespectful.
Barber is tied with Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot for the longest active winning streak in the women’s flyweight division. Cortez (11-1 MMA and 5-0 UFC) has been undefeated since her debut but lacks substantial rivalry. This can still be a stylistic challenge for Namajunas to gain momentum by defeating a rising star in Cortez.
