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Tracy Cortez trims hair to meet weight requirements for UFC Denver main event against Rose Namajunas
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    Tracy Cortez trims hair to meet weight requirements for UFC Denver main event against Rose Namajunas

    The UFC returns to the Mile High City for the first time in more than five years this Saturday with a UFC Fight Night event, but before the headline bout between Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez was made official on Friday, there was some drama at the weigh-ins.

    Cortez ended up needing to cut off some of her long hair in order to shed the last bit of weight ahead of her flyweight matchup with Namajunas.

    UFC Fight Night


    Watch UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. Cortez on SN360 and Sportsnet+, with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Saturday.

    Broadcast schedule

    The 30-year-old weighed 126.5 pounds on her first attempt, which was a half-pound over the flyweight limit for a non-title fight. She had an additional 35 minutes to shed the final half-pound so she resumed cutting weight and just to be sure, she cut off some of her hair before her second attempt — and it turned out to be the difference.

    Cortez officially weighed an even 126 pounds on her second and final attempt. She later posed on the scale while holding the locks of her own hair and holding back tears.

    Namajunas, a former champion in the 115-pound strawweight division, stepped on the scale under the limit ahead of the fifth main event of her UFC career and just her third bout in the women’s flyweight division. Namajunas is coming off a win over Amanda Ribas in March. 

    Namajunas, 32, was originally scheduled to face Maycee Barber in the main event but Barber withdrew from the card late last month and was replaced by Cortez, who had previously been scheduled to face Miranda Maverick on July 20 at the UFC Apex. Cortez accepted the short-notice matchup with Namajunas; it marks her first opportunity to headline a UFC card.

    The main event is one of three scheduled women’s flyweight contests on the card. 

    Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius, Cortez’s most recent opponent, stepped on the scale an even 125 pounds ahead of her preliminary matchup with 6-0 UFC newcomer Fatima Kline, who was also 125 pounds Friday morning. 

    All 24 fighters scheduled to compete Saturday at Ball Arena successfully made weight. Below are the complete weigh-in results for UFC Denver and the projected bout order.

    MAIN CARD

    — Rose Namajunas (124.75) vs. Tracy Cortez (126)

    — Santiago Ponzinibbio (171) vs. Muslim Salikhov (171)

    — Drew Dober (155) vs. Jean Silva (155)

    — Gabriel Bonfim (171) vs. Ange Loosa (170)

    — Julian Erosa (145.5) vs. Christian Rodriguez (145.5)

    — Abdul Razak Alhassan (185) vs. Cody Brundage (185.5)

    PRELIMINARY CARD

    — Joshua Van (125) vs. Charles Johnson (125.5)

    — Jasmine Jasudavicius (125) vs. Fatima Kline (125)

    — Montel Jackson (135) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (135)

    — Luana Santos (125) vs. Mariya Agapova (125)

    — Josh Fremd (186) vs. Andre Petroski (185.5)

    — Evan Elder (170) vs. Darrius Flowers (170)

    More from Sportsnet
    UFC Denver adds additional preliminary card bout, finalizes bout order


    Namajunas, Cortez and women’s flyweight ranks back in spotlight at crucial time

    Tracy Cortez, a rising star in the world of mixed martial arts, is set to make her debut in the main event of UFC Denver against former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. However, in order to meet the weight requirements for the fight, Cortez has had to make some drastic changes to her usual routine.

    One of the biggest challenges for fighters in the UFC is making weight for their respective weight class. In Cortez’s case, she typically walks around at a heavier weight than the 115-pound limit for the strawweight division. In order to meet this requirement, Cortez has had to focus on cutting weight in a healthy and sustainable way.

    One of the ways that Cortez has been able to trim down is by focusing on her diet. She has been working closely with a nutritionist to ensure that she is eating the right foods in the right quantities to help her shed those extra pounds. This includes cutting out processed foods and focusing on whole, nutrient-dense foods like lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables.

    In addition to her diet, Cortez has also been putting in extra time at the gym to help burn off any excess weight. This includes increasing her cardio workouts and incorporating more high-intensity interval training into her routine. By combining these efforts with her diet, Cortez has been able to steadily drop weight in a healthy and sustainable way.

    While cutting weight can be a challenging process for any fighter, Cortez is determined to make the necessary sacrifices in order to compete at the highest level. With her sights set on victory against Namajunas, Cortez is leaving no stone unturned in her preparation for this high-stakes fight.

    As fight night approaches, fans can expect to see a leaner and more focused Tracy Cortez step into the octagon. With her dedication to meeting the weight requirements for this main event, Cortez is proving that she has what it takes to compete at the highest level in the UFC.