Tracy Cortez Credits Her Late Brother Jose
Tracy Cortez has spoken about the influence of her older brother, Jose, on her path to MMA. He was a fighter who hoped to reach the UFC and died of cancer in 2011. Cortez has described him as her hero; the UFC has profiled their family story and her brother’s role in her decision to pursue the sport.
A personal connection to the sport
Jose Cortez competed in MMA and was diagnosed with cancer after a fight with Drew Fickett, according to Tracy’s UFC fighter profile. He died in 2011 before reaching his goal of competing in the UFC. Tracy has said that seeing her brother fight helped introduce her to MMA, and she later dedicated her own career to the sport.
Cortez made her UFC debut in 2019 after competing on Dana White’s Contender Series. She lost to Rose Namajunas in July 2024, defeated Viviane Araújo in June 2025, then lost to Erin Blanchfield by second-round rear-naked choke at UFC 322 and to Wang Cong. The UFC’s official record lists each result.
Cortez’s results stand on their own, while her connection to Jose remains an important part of the story she has shared publicly. The UFC profile and interviews document that family influence.
Sources
Tags: MMA
