Tracy Cortez

Background Cortez is of Mexican descent, she was born on December 10, 1993 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, and grew up in a household of Mexican immigrants. She has three brothers, Jose Cortez, J.R. Cortez and Abraham Cortez. At the age of 14, she started training MMA after she watched her first MMA match where her oldest brother Jose, who had aspired to be a UFC fighter, fought and won against former UFC veteran Drew Fickett in November 2008. Jose stopped competing after the match with Fickett when he underwent cardiovascular problems and was later diagnosed with germ cell cancer. He died from the disease in 2011. Cortez got a tattoo in remembrance of her brother on her arm. She struggled with depression following her brother's passing but managed to get back on track with the help of her family, Henry Cejudo, and Angel Cejudo, who were best friends of her brother Jose.

Every time I feel tired or I feel fatigued or I question anything, I think like, damn, my brother fought with cancer in his heart and he didn't give up. He fought through it. I'm perfectly healthy. I'm more than capable to do what I'm doing. This is easy work. That's a huge motivator for me.

Invicta Fighting Championships and other promotions

Cortez made her Invicta debut on August 31, 2017, against Cheri Muraski at Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhi. She lost the fight via submission in round two. She returned to World Fighting in November 2017, fought against Roxanne Ceasear and secured a win via unanimous decision.

Her next fight came on March 24, 2018, facing Kaytlin Neil at Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. Jandiroba. She won the fight via unanimous decision. Cortez went on to face Monica Median and Karen Cedillo in 2018 at V3 Fight Night 69 and Combate Americas: Alday vs. Lopez respectively and she won both of the fights.

On February 15, 2019, Cortez faced Erin Blanchfield at Invicta FC 34: Porto vs. Gonzalez. She won the fight via split decision.

Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series Cortez appeared in DWTNCS: Season 3, Episode 6 web-series program on July 30, 2019, facing Mariya Agapova. She won the fight via unanimous decision and was signed by UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Cortez was expected to make her promotional debut against Duda Santana in a bantamweight bout on November 16, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 164. However, in October 27, it was reported that Santana was forced to withdraw from the fight due to family issues and she was replaced by Vanessa Melo. At the weigh-ins, Cortez and Melo both missed weight for their fight, both weighing in at 136.5 pounds, 0.5 pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit of 136. The bout was initially proceeded at a catchweight and no fine was issued due to identical misses. However, later on the same day, Brazil's athletic commission (CABMMA) executive director Cristiano Sampaio announced that due to an error of the scale used at the weight-ins was set was 0.7 pounds above the official scale and thus both fighters were officially clear from missing weight and the bout proceeded at bantamweight. Cortez won the bout by unanimous decision.

Cortez was expected to face Bea Malecki on October 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179. However, on October 2, 2020, it was announced that Malecki was replaced by a newcomer Stephanie Egger for undisclosed reason. Cortez won the fight via unanimous decision.

Cortez faced Justine Kish on April 17, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 22. At the weigh-ins, Cortez came in at 126.5 pounds, a half pound over the flyweight non-title fight limit. Her bout proceeded at catchweight and she was fined 20% of her individual purse, which went to her opponent Kish. Cortez won the fight via a split decision.

Cortez was scheduled to face JJ Aldrich on August 28, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 30. However, Cortez was pulled from the fight due to injury, and she was replaced by Vanessa Demopoulos.

Cortez faced Melissa Gatto on May 7, 2022, at UFC 274. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Cortez was scheduled to face Amanda Ribas on December 3, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 42. However, shortly after the official weigh-ins, the promotion announced Cortez was pulled from the bout due to an unspecified medical issue and the bout was cancelled.

Cortez faced Jasmine Jasudavicius on September 16, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 227. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Cortez was scheduled to face Miranda Maverick on July 20, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 60. However, Cortez was pulled from the bout to face Rose Namajunas as a replacement for Maycee Barber, on July 13, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 59. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Cortez was re-scheduled to face Miranda Maverick on December 14, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 63. However, Cortez was forced to withdraw due to health issues that required her to have surgery and was replaced by Jamey-Lyn Horth.

Cortez faced Viviane Araújo on June 28, 2025, at UFC 317. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Cortez faced Erin Blanchfield in a rematch on November 15, 2025 at UFC 322. She lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Cortez faced Wang Cong on July 11, 2026 at UFC 329. Despite having a point deducted from Cong for an illegal knee in the second round, Cortez lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Personal life Cortez was previously engaged to fellow UFC fighter Brian Ortega.

In January 2026, media outlets reported that she was in a relationship with the former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira following an Instagram post of the two kissing. The two would then end their relationship a week later for undisclosed reasons.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Wang Cong Decision (unanimous) UFC 329

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Erin Blanchfield Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 322

New York City, New York, United States Win

Viviane Araújo Decision (unanimous) UFC 317

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Rose Namajunas Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Jasmine Jasudavicius Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Melissa Gatto Decision (unanimous) UFC 274

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Justine Kish Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Stephanie Egger Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Vanessa Melo Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Mariya Agapova Decision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 22

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Erin Blanchfield Decision (split) Invicta FC 34

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Karen Cedillo TKO (punches) Combate 24

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Monica Medina Submission (rear-naked choke) V3 Fights 69

Memphis, Tennessee, United States Win

Kaytlin Neil Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 28

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Roxanne Ceasear Decision (unanimous) World Fighting Federation 36

Chandler, Arizona, United States Loss

Cheri Muraski Submission (guillotine choke) Invicta FC 25

Lemoore, California, United States