Rose Namajunas will have to wait a bit longer to settle her score with Maycee Barber! The two fighters were scheduled to clash at the UFC Denver main event on July 13th. After Namajunas snapped a 2 fight-losing streak against Amanda Ribas at UFC Vegas 89 in March, she had stated in the post-fight press conference, “I think she’s [Maycee Barber] a savage, you know. She’s a big girl, she’s strong, she’s just like a bully in there, you know!”

Barber is currently ranked no.4 in the women’s flyweight division and a win over Namajunas could have propelled her towards title contention. However, according to recent reports, ‘The Future’ is now out of her bout against ‘Thug Rose’ and no. 11 ranked Tracy Cortez has been tapped in by the UFC and CEO Dana White to face Namajunas instead.

UFC scrambles to make replacement bout for Rose Namajunas as Maycee Barber out of Denver main event

The fight between Rose Namajunas and Maycee Barber was highly anticipated by the MMA fans due to their shared history. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Namajunas revealed that their paths first crossed when Barber was, “…she was probably around 18 or something like that, maybe 17”.

But the friction between them began when Barber’s father and coach, Bucky, had an interaction with Namajunas that rubbed her the wrong way. ‘Thug Rose’ revealed, “He was just yelling in my face saying that, ‘We’re coming for you’… (It was) after a fight. I’m sure emotions were high but I personally was like, ‘That was uncalled for on his part.”

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However, with Barber now being reported to be out of the UFC Denver main event against Namajunas, Tracy Cortez will be taking on ‘Thug Rose’ on short notice instead. Cortez was originally scheduled to face Miranda Maverick at the UFC Vegas 91 card on July 20, but now, she’ll be putting her undefeated UFC streak on the line against the former strawweight champion.

Barber’s withdrawal may be a huge opportunity for Cortez to break into the top 10 as a win over Namajunas, currently ranked no. 6 in the division, would put the entire division on notice. But ‘Thug Rose’ may also be the toughest test Cortez has faced in her UFC run so far. Nevertheless, while Rose Namajunas grapples with the sudden change in opponents for her UFC Denver main event, she has also recently revealed her thoughts on a former rival joining the ‘Hall of Fame’!

Namajunas thrilled with former rival’s Hall of Fame honors  

Rose Namajunas might have been the fighter to end Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s reign atop the strawweight division, but she is thrilled to see her rival now being honored by being inducted into the UFC Hall Of Fame. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Namajunas stated, “That’s super cool, I’m very happy for her. Obviously, I looked up to her. As much as we had our rivalry and things like that, I wish all the best to her.”

Namajunas faced Jedrejczyk at UFC 217 in 2017 where she won the UFC women’s strawweight championship and she prevailed over her rival once again in their rematch at UFC 223 the following year. However, after losing the title to Carla Esparza at UFC 274 in 2022, ‘Thug Rose’ made her move up to the flyweight division where she currently has a record of 1-1.

As she prepares to face Tracy Cortez on July 13, Namajunas will be hoping to continue her climb in the flyweight division and remind fans why she is still a formidable force inside the Octagon! Do you think Rose Namajunas has what it takes to become a champion in another division? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!