We featured this gorgeous fighter in a listicle before, but we think she really needs a feature of her own. Why? Take a look…
Tracy Cortez just looks amazing! Her face alone could launch fans into a frenzy, especially when she throws in a smile. She is a sight to behold and also quite addictive to watch… No, not in a ring but in a weigh-in. I mean, in the ring, she is magnificent but it’s quite hard to see her take some kicks and punches.
Who is Tracy Cortez
Tracy Cortez is a Mexican-American MMA fighter competing in the UFC’s Women’s Flyweight division—and she’s not there to play around.
Fighting out of Arizona, she’s known for her wrestling-heavy style, which basically means once she gets control, good luck getting away. She earned her UFC contract in 2019 through Dana White’s Contender Series, proving she had both the skills and the grit to make it to the big stage.
More than just a career move, her journey is deeply personal—she’s following in the footsteps of her late brother, Jose, carrying his passion with her every time she steps into the cage.
Her Early Life
Tracy Cortez was born on December 10, 1993, in Phoenix, Arizona, and raised in a tight-knit Mexican-American family alongside her three brothers—Jose, J.R., and Abraham.
Her path into MMA started early. At just 14, she watched her oldest brother Jose step into the cage and win a fight against Drew Fickett—and that was it, she was hooked. What began as support for her brother quickly turned into her own passion.
Jose had dreams of making it to the UFC, but his journey was cut short after health issues led to a diagnosis of germ cell cancer. He passed away in 2011, a loss that deeply impacted Tracy. She later honored him with a tattoo, keeping his memory with her every time she steps into the cage.
Like many people facing something that heavy, she struggled in the aftermath. But with the support of her family—and guidance from mentors like Henry Cejudo and Angel Cejudo, who were close to her brother—she found her way back.
And from there, she kept going—stronger, more focused, and carrying a purpose that goes far beyond the fight itself.
Career Journey
Tracy Cortez built her career the old-school way—fight by fight, promotion by promotion. She started strong in the amateur scene, going 3–0 while competing in organizations like World Fighting Federation and King of the Cage before earning a shot at Invicta Fighting Championships.
Her Invicta debut in 2017 didn’t go her way—she lost via submission to Cheri Muraski—but she bounced back quickly (as she tends to do), picking up a win later that year and then stacking victories in 2018 against names like Kaytlin Neil, Monica Median, and Karen Cedillo. Momentum: restored.
In 2019, she edged out Erin Blanchfield by split decision at Invicta FC 34—foreshadowing a rivalry that would come back around later.
That same year, she stepped into Dana White’s Contender Series and faced Mariya Agapova. She won convincingly—and just like that, she earned her UFC contract. Big moment, no pressure.
Her UFC debut came with a bit of chaos (because of course it did). Originally scheduled to face Duda Santana, she ended up fighting Vanessa Melo instead. There was even a weigh-in mix-up thanks to a faulty scale—long story short, everyone made weight… eventually. Through all that, Tracy stayed focused and won by unanimous decision.
Fast forward a few years, and she’s still doing what she does best: winning fights. In June 2025, she defeated Viviane Araújo at UFC 317 via unanimous decision.
Later that year, she faced Erin Blanchfield again at UFC 322 in a rematch—but this time, things didn’t go her way, with a second-round submission loss.
Wins, losses, rematches—Tracy’s journey has all the elements of a fighter who’s in it for the long haul. And if there’s one thing she’s proven, it’s that she knows how to come back stronger every time.
Facts and Trivia
Tracy Cortez has had a few headline-making moments outside the cage too—because apparently, fighting isn’t dramatic enough on its own.
She was previously engaged to fellow UFC fighter Brian Ortega. Fast forward to January 2026, and she briefly made waves again when she was linked to UFC light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira after a now-viral Instagram post. The relationship lasted about a week—short, but definitely memorable.
Inside the cage, she’s built a solid record of 12–3 as of late 2025, with many of those wins coming by decision—translation: she’s the kind of fighter who stays composed, sticks to the plan, and gets the job done. She trains out of Arizona’s Fight Ready, a gym known for producing top-level talent.
One of her most talked-about moments came in July 2024, when she literally cut her hair to make the 125-pound weight limit for a fight against Rose Namajunas. Commitment level? Very high.
She’s also built a strong following online, with over a million fans on Instagram keeping up with her journey. And when it comes to rivalries, hers with Erin Blanchfield is a notable one—she won their first fight in 2019, but dropped the rematch in 2025.
All in all, Tracy’s story has a bit of everything: grit, discipline, a few viral moments, and just enough drama to keep things interesting.
Tracy Cortez Photos
Join her over 2 million followers on Instagram for her latest personal posts.
And do check out our Tracy Cortez page for more of her stunning pictures.
