Rose Namajunas
Rose Namajunas

UFC Returns with Thrilling Fights in Denver

Thrilling UFC Denver: Namajunas Shines, Salikhov Edges Ponzinibbio
July 14, 2024

Namajunas vs. Cortez

UFC took a break last week after the major event UFC 303, but now the MMA giant is back with another exciting fight card. This weekend’s UFC event saw former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas take on sharp grappler Tracy Cortez. Notably, Cortez stepped in on short notice after Namajunas’ original opponent Maycee Barber withdrew due to illness.

Namajunas displayed her striking prowess against Cortez, securing a unanimous decision victory (49-46 x2, 48-47). This bout marked Namajunas’ third fight in the flyweight division. She previously impressed with a unanimous decision win over Amanda Ribas. Cortez, who had strung together five consecutive wins in the division, presented a tough challenge with her grappling skills but couldn’t overcome Namajunas’ superior striking and overall strategy ? ? ?.

Ponzinibbio vs. Salikhov

In the co-main event, Santiago Ponzinibbio faced Muslim Salikhov. With three losses in his last four fights, Ponzinibbio was in a must-win situation. However, Salikhov emerged victorious via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29), adding to Ponzinibbio’s woes. This win was crucial for Salikhov’s standing in the welterweight division.

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Other Highlights

Other notable fights included Jean Silva’s TKO victory over Drew Dober after a doctor’s stoppage due to a severe cut above Dober’s right eye. Julian Erosa secured a first-round submission win against Christian Rodriguez, and Gabriel Bonfim won by unanimous decision against Ange Loosa.

Full Fight Card

Main Card

• Women’s Flyweight Main Event: Rose Namajunas def. Tracy Cortez via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 48-47)
• Welterweight Co-Main Event: Muslim Salikhov def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
• Lightweight: Jean Silva def. Drew Dober via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R3, 1.28
• Welterweight: Gabriel Bonfim def. Ange Loosa via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
• Featherweight: Julian Erosa def. Christian Rodriguez via submission: R1, 4.49
• Middleweight: Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage ends in no contest (illegal elbows by Alhassan): R1, 0.37

Preliminary Card

• Flyweight: Charles Johnson def. Joshua Van via KO: R3, 0.20
• Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Fatima Kline via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
• Bantamweight: Montel Jackson def. Da’Mon Blackshear via KO: R1, 0.18
• Women’s Flyweight: Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova via submission: R1, 3.27
• Middleweight: Andre Petroski def. Josh Fremd via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
• Welterweight: Evan Elder def. Darrius Flowers via submission: R2, 1.46

This weekend’s UFC event was filled with excitement and showcased why MMA remains one of the world’s most dynamic and engaging sports.

 

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