Kamaru Usman thinks Rose Namajunas is a “tall order for anybody” and that includes rising contender Tracy Cortez.
It’s back-to-back main events for the two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion who returns at UFC Denver this weekend. Namajunas was set to meet #4-ranked Maycee Barber in five rounds or less but Barber would withdraw, with Cortez coming in to save the day on short notice.
The highly-touted Cortez is currently on a 11-fight win streak (5-0 in the UFC), not having lost since her pro debut in 2017. Training out of Fight Ready in Scottsdale, Arizona, former two-division Champion Henry Cejudo believes Cortez’s wrestling will pay dividends in her first UFC headliner against Namajunas.
Usman “In Awe” Of What Namajunas Can Do In MMA
For “Thug” Rose, she’s just about seen it all in her 15-fight tenure in the UFC, with seven of those being title fights. While Namajunas hasn’t looked quite the same since her title loss to Carla Esparza, former champ (and teammate) Usman says she’s still a force to be reckoned with.
“Rose is probably one of the best female martial artists I’ve ever seen,” Usman said on ‘Pound 4 Pound‘. “As far as the way that she’s able to pick things up, the way that she’s able to display the technique, the mind, the vision. Don’t get me wrong, there’s moments, lapse in judgment in the fights… But, Rose is one of the best that I’ve ever [seen]. I’m in awe sometimes when I watch her do certain things, I’m just like, holy crap, I wish I could do that.”
“Rose Is Ambidextrous With The Work”
While Cejudo was quick to point out Namajunas’ six pro losses, acknowledging she can very well be beat, Usman would respond with Namajunas’ greatest feats such as knocking out ‘virtually unstoppable’ champions like Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Zhang Weili to take the throne twice before an eventual off-night vs. Esparza.
Namajunas is currently 1-1 at flyweight after a loss to top contender Manon Fiorot and a win over Amanda Ribas in March.
“Rose has got back on the horse,” Usman said. “I thought her last performance was really good against a very, very tough in game, Amanda Ribas. Rose went out there, didn’t care. She was switching stances. Rose is ambidextrous with the work. She can give it to you with the left hand or the right hand, pause, in any way possible. So, at the end of the day, I see what you’re saying, Henry, because you train with Tracy. But, I just think Rose is a tall order for anybody, any female in that division to step into [the Octagon with].”
Cejudo Challenges Usman To A Bet, But Not One You’d Expect
In disagreement with Usman, Cejudo would propose a bet with his fellow champion: whoever gets their pick wrong on Saturday night has to crack an egg on their head…
“I’m 100% down,” Usman agreed to the bet, to the amazement of Cejudo, asking if he was ‘that confident’ in his pick. “Rose is a special athlete and I’m that confident. Obviously a teammate of mine at one point, so I’m very, very, very confident in her abilities, and if she’s healthy, goes in there…. There’s not a lot of people that Rose can’t beat.”
We’ll see who gets an egg on their head, following UFC Denver this Saturday night, streaming live on ESPN+.
