Desperate times called for desperate measures for UFC women’s flyweight star Tracy Cortez on Friday as she faced a significant hurdle in her career.
Cortez is set to make her main event debut on Saturday against former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. However, the 30-year-old initially missed the 126-pound weight limit for the fight, prompting her to take drastic actions to ensure the bout could proceed.
After missing weight on her first attempt, Cortez returned to the scale after cutting more weight but found herself still slightly over the limit. In a creative and dramatic move, she resorted to having her coach cut off a significant chunk of her hair. This unconventional method proved just enough for Cortez to make weight and keep her main event debut intact.
However, there’s a catch to this story. Doctor David Abbasi noted that cutting six inches of hair likely only amounts to about a tenth of an ounce, suggesting that Cortez might have made weight without the need for such drastic measures.
Despite the drama, Cortez’s determination and willingness to do whatever it takes were on full display.
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This bout has had its share of drama even before the weigh-in incident. Tracy Cortez is stepping in for Maycee Barber, who was originally slated to fight Namajunas but had to withdraw due to an injury. Namajunas expressed her dissatisfaction with the change, revealing a history of social media interactions with Barber that added tension to the situation.
“It’s just been a few interactions that I’ve had with her, or on social media a long time ago, just like silly stuff,” Namajunas said of Barber during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “She posted a picture of me with my training partners and X’d out all of their faces and then circled my face and was like, ‘I’m coming for you next.’ I’m just like, ‘OK.’
“She always tries to say that by beating my training partners, [she thinks], ‘I know that broke her.’ You don’t know what could break me, because there’s a lot more that has to break me. I don’t have anything personal against her, but the competitor inside of me, it’s like, yeah, I really wanted to show her what’s up.”
While Barber will have to wait for her opportunity, Cortez has demonstrated her readiness to face Namajunas, regardless of the obstacles. Her dramatic weight-cutting episode and commitment to making the fight happen underscore her tenacity and determination.
As fight night approaches, all eyes will be on Cortez to see if her efforts and sacrifices will pay off in the octagon. Her willingness to go to great lengths to compete against a formidable opponent like Namajunas highlights her competitive spirit and dedication to the sport. Fans can expect an intense and compelling bout as these two fighters face off, with Cortez’s recent drama adding an extra layer of anticipation to the showdown.
