Tracy Cortez

As of March 26, 2024, she is #11 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings.

Of Mexican descent, Cortez was born 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, whose dream was to be a UFC fighter, fought against former UFC veteran Drew Fickett in November 2008. He won the fight via split decision. Jose stopped competing after the match with Fickett as he started to show cardiovascular problems and was later diagnosed with germ cell cancer. He died from the cancer in 2011. Cortez got a tattoo in remembrance of her brother on her arm. She struggled through depression after her brother's passing but managed to get back on track with the help of her family and Henry Cejudo and Angel Cejudo, who are the best friends of her oldest 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.

Early career

Cortez fought under World Fighting Federation and KOTC in her amateur career and amassed a record of 3–0 prior to being signed by Invicta Fighting Championships.

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 on ESPN+ 22. 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 used to be engaged to fellow UFC fighter Brian Ortega.

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