UFC Denver live blog: Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez

This is the UFC Denver live blog for Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez, the main event flyweight fight Saturday at Ball Arena in Denver.

Namajunas, a two-time champion at 115 pounds, competes for the third time at flyweight division after splitting her first two fights in the new weight class. She dropped a three-round decision to Manon Fiorot this past September, but rebounded by outpointing Amanda Ribas in a five-round main event in March.

Currently, Namajunas is ranked No. 10 at flyweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings and No. 15 on the Pound-for-Pound list.

Cortez steps in as a short-notice replacement for Maycee Barber. Unbeaten in the UFC so far, Cortez was expected to face Miranda Maverick on July 20, but was pulled from that bout to take on Namajunas in the new UFC Denver main event. Inactivity has slowed Cortez’s climb up the charts, but if she defeats Namajunas, she moves several steps closer to the front of the flyweight contenders’ line.

Check out the UFC Denver main event live blog below.