Brian Ortega Responds as Fans Taunt Fighter Over Alex Pereira Dating his Ex-Girlfriend Tracy Cortez

UFC featherweight Brian Ortega responds following Alex Pereira and Tracy Cortez's images going viral on the internet.

Brian Ortega Responds as Fans Taunt Fighter Over Alex Pereira Dating his Ex-Girlfriend Tracy Cortez

Brian Ortega gives explanations following Alex Pereira's confirmation of dating rumours with Tracy Cortez (via X)

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Alex Pereira had an interesting 2025 as he initially lost his UFC belt to Magomed Ankalaev before later reclaiming it. Following that dramatic turnaround, the champion kicked off his 2026 New Year celebrations by sharing a picture alongside Tracy Cortez. The unexpected post instantly caught fan attention online, sparking curiosity, playful speculation, and widespread discussion across social media.

The pictures showed Alex Pereira and  Cortez sharing a kiss, confirming the pair had been quietly dating for some time. News and assumptions spread rapidly across the internet, drawing massive attention, curiosity, and mixed reactions from fans, media insiders, and fighters alike.

As expected, the situation also brought attention toward UFC featherweight Brian Ortega, who previously dated Cortez before their separation. Ortega received an array of messages across social media platforms and quickly became the subject of numerous memes and jokes. Eventually, ‘T-City’ addressed the situation publicly, sharing a composed statement on his social media, urging fans to remain respectful.

I see you guys hitting me up trying to get a rise out of me (y’all creative I give you that). Listen up I’m beyond happy and been happy. It ain’t my style to talk about others personal life and choices nor is it my business. My business is my family and my career in 2026 and every year after will always be about them. 

Brian Ortega via Instagram

Ortega and Cortez were first linked publicly around 2020, often appearing together at UFC events and social gatherings. Their relationship gained attention through supportive posts, shared training moments, and Cortez frequently backing Ortega during major fights. Over time, both fighters became increasingly focused on their careers, leading to fewer public appearances and a noticeable distance between them.

The pair eventually broke up, choosing privacy, with neither publicly blaming the other, instead prioritizing personal growth and professional commitments. Earlier, Cortez went viral with Paulo Costa after a casual training selfie sparked unfounded relationship rumors, which she later explained were purely friendly. 

Ortega faced online reactions then too, as fans joked and speculated, foreshadowing similar memes during later news cycles. Brian Ortega is currently more focused on his career as he goes through a rough patch with two consecutive losses.

In his most recent outing, Ortega suffered a unanimous decision loss to former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. There were rumors about Ortega potentially moving up to the lightweight division. As of now, he is expected to rematch Renato Moicano in the first quarter of 2026.

On the other hand, Tracy Cortez suffered a setback in her last fight, losing to Erin Blanchfield via rear-naked submission. Determined to rebound strongly, Cortez has already returned to intense training, openly focusing on sharpening weaknesses. She was recently spotted training alongside Alex Pereira, working extensively on striking with the knockout specialist to elevate her offensive arsenal.

Alex Pereira surprises his nephew with a new bike

Alex Pereira came from a struggling lower-class background in Brazil, where he worked long hours at a tire shop. Growing up in difficult conditions, Pereira faced financial hardship and limited opportunities before discovering combat sports as an escape. Through relentless discipline and sacrifice, he transformed himself into a UFC champion and globally recognized combat sports superstar.

Alex Pereira gifts his nephew a bike
Alex Pereira gifts his nephew a bike (via X)

With success came millions in earnings, sponsorships, and worldwide fame that helped him to change his lifestyle. Despite wealth, Pereira remains connected to his roots, regularly helping people from his favela with gifts, support, and financial assistance. It seems like it has also helped him to support his family, as he recently went viral for gifting his nephew a new bike.

Alex Pereira is currently recovering from an injury he suffered in his last fight while planning his return. During recovery, ‘Poatan’ has spoken about potentially fighting on the proposed White House UFC card later this year.

Pereira has even called out former heavyweight champion Jon Jones, making fans wonder if UFC approves this blockbuster matchup. However, UFC CEO Dana White doesn’t seem to like pairing Jones against Poatan at the moment.

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