UFC
on ESPN 59 has a new main event.
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Maycee
Barber has been forced out of a proposed flyweight clash
against Rose
Namajunas for undisclosed reasons. As a result, Tracy
Cortez will face Namajunas in the card’s new main event.
MMA Mania was first to report Barber’s
withdrawal, and MMAFighting.com brought word of the new
booking. UFC on ESPN 59 takes place on July 13 at Ball Arena in
Denver.
Cortez was scheduled to face Miranda
Maverick at on UFC
on ESPN 60 on July 20, but will now fight one week earlier than
expected. Maverick will reportedly remain on the July 20 card
against a replacement opponent.
Cortez has won 11 consecutive professional outings — including her
first five UFC bouts. Most recently, the Fight Ready product
defeated Jasmine
Jasudavicius via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 227 this
past September.
A former strawweight champion, Namajunas will be making her third
125-pound appearance. After dropping a three-round verdict to
Manon
Fiorot in her flyweight debut, Namajunas outpointed Amanda
Ribas in the UFC on ESPN 53 main event on March 23.