Tracy Cortez vs. Rose Namajunas: Previous purses and payouts of the UFC Denver headliners compared
In search of her second win in the flyweight division, Rose Namajunas will welcome Tracy Cortez in the main event of UFC Denver on July 13. With her status as a former two-time champion and the local fighter, Namajunas is a sizeable favorite to get her hand raised in the matchup.
With Namajunas being the highest-ranked fighter on the card, many would expect her to receive the largest paycheck of the night. Cortez does not have the accomplishments of her opponent but accepts the fight on short notice, a gesture that usually is reciprocated with a pay raise from the UFC.
Both fighters frequently compete in Las Vegas, making it difficult to estimate their updated fighter pay given the Nevada State Athletic Commission's policy against releasing such information. However, the two flyweights have previously fought in areas that disclose purses.
Namajunas' recent fight with Manon Fiorot in France reportedly warranted a $225,000 paycheck in a loss, pet BetMGM. However, in her previous title fight with Carla Esparza at UFC 274 in Phoenix, MMA Salaries estimated her purse to be upward of $500,000.
Cortez also fought on UFC 274, defeating Melissa Gatto in her most recent appearance outside of Las Vegas. For the fight, the 30-year-old reportedly earned $84,500, a combination of her $40,000 base pay and win bonus with additional sponsorship earnings.
Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez preview
In her first fight since Noche UFC in September 2023, Tracy Cortez will return to the Octagon in the biggest fight of her career against former champion Rose Namajunas.
Cortez was originally scheduled to face Miranda Maverick on July 20 at the UFC APEX but accepted the short-notice challenge after Namajunas' original opponent, Maycee Barber, withdrew from the fight. In her first UFC main event, the Fight Ready MMA product will put her 11-fight win streak on the line, with her last loss in her professional debut.
Namajunas will look to record consecutive wins to rebound in the current chapter of her career. 'Thug Rose' lost her flyweight debut to Manon Fiorot at UFC France but bounced back in the main event of UFC Vegas 89, defeating Amanda Ribas by decision.
Should Namajunas pick up the win — a task she is favored to complete — it would mark her first win streak since knocking off Zhang Weili twice in 2021.