Tracy Cortez Reflects on UFC 317 Victory Over Viviane Araujo
Tracy Cortez secured a unanimous decision victory over Viviane Araujo at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025. In her octagon interview, she discussed her health challenges and performance critique while affirming her status as a flyweight contender.
Tracy Cortez's Emotional Reaction to UFC 317 Win
At UFC 317, held on June 28, 2025, in Las Vegas, Tracy Cortez secured a unanimous decision victory over Viviane Araujo in a women's flyweight bout. In her post-fight octagon interview with Joe Rogan, Cortez expressed a mix of emotions about her performance. While she was thrilled to return to the win column after nearly a year away from the octagon, she admitted to being critical of her own showing. Her determination to improve was evident as she discussed her journey back to competition, highlighting the personal and professional challenges she faced leading up to the fight.
Overcoming Health Challenges
During the interview, around the 2:30 mark, Cortez opened up about a significant health scare that nearly derailed her career. She revealed that late in 2024, doctors discovered tumors in her abdominal area, necessitating immediate surgery. This revelation added a deeper layer to her comeback story, as she described the physical and emotional toll of the ordeal. Her resilience shone through as she emphasized her commitment to returning stronger, using this fight as a stepping stone to prove her place among the top flyweight contenders.
Performance Critique and Future Aspirations
At approximately the 4:15 point of the discussion, Cortez critiqued her performance against Araujo. Despite the dominant unanimous decision, with judges scoring the bout a clean sweep at 30-27, she expressed disappointment in not securing a finish. Cortez acknowledged her well-rounded effort but felt she could have done more to close out the fight decisively. Her self-assessment underscored her competitive spirit and desire to elevate her game, signaling her intent to climb higher in the flyweight rankings.
Recognition as a Flyweight Contender
Towards the end of the interview, near the 5:50 timestamp, Cortez reflected on her status in the division. She recognized that this victory solidified her position as a legitimate contender in the flyweight category. While not entirely satisfied with how she achieved the win, she expressed confidence in her ability to compete with the best in the division. Her focus remained on growth, using this fight as a benchmark for future improvements and challenges inside the octagon.
