Maycee Barber Out; Tracy Cortez Expected to Face Rose Namajunas at UFC Denver

UFC on ESPN 59 has a new main event.

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.