Brian Ortega Exposes Tracy Cortez: Mexican Martial Arts Breakdown

Brian Ortega has publicly addressed his past relationship with UFC flyweight star Tracy Cortez, describing it as toxic and acknowledging personal shortcomings during their time together. The former UFC featherweight title challenger spoke openly about the relationship in recent interviews, reflecting on how it impacted him both personally and professionally.

During an appearance on Dominick Cruz’s Love & War podcast, Ortega revealed that his mother had warned him about the relationship, saying he would “never be at peace” with Cortez. He admitted that early in the relationship, he had idealized the idea of them being a “power couple,” but soon realized things were not as they seemed.

“I started listening to myself…and when I was listening to certain teachings, we just kind of grew apart,” Ortega said. “I met [Tracy] and I thought we could start from scratch, ‘Power Couple’ this and that, and then shortly into that, I was like ‘D***, I f***** up’.”

Ortega acknowledged that his ego played a role in prolonging the relationship, particularly because he had previously left behind family and responsibilities, and feared judgment if he walked away again. “Because I already left the kids and the family [before], everyone was going to laugh at me, so it was the ego again,” he explained.

Despite the difficulties, Ortega noted that he and Cortez have maintained a cordial relationship in the year following their breakup, though it took time to reach that point. He emphasized that the reconciliation did not happen quickly and required personal growth on his part.

The revelations come after years of speculation about the nature of their relationship, which had been viewed by some fans and media as one of the UFC’s prominent pairings. Ortega’s comments mark one of the first times he has spoken in detail about the challenges they faced.

Both Ortega and Cortez remain active in the UFC, with Ortega competing in the featherweight division and Cortez in the women’s flyweight division. Neither athlete has indicated that the past relationship has affected their current professional focus or performances inside the octagon.