Emotional weigh-ins: Tracy Cortez sheds tears and cuts hair to make weight for UFC Denver main event

August 2024 · 3 minute read

The UFC Denver weigh-ins are in the book. After some sore weight-cut drama, all fighters made weight. In the main event of UFC Denver, former women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas takes on Tracy Cortez. This will be Cortez’s first feature headliner. Hence, emotions were running high during a scale snafu.

Weigh-ins took place at the UFC’s Denver-based UFC Host Hotel. The nearby Ball Arena will host the Saturday event. Namajunas, competing at flyweight for the third time, had no problems and was the first to weigh in. Tracy Cortez, however, missed the mark on her first attempt at 126.5 pounds. She had until the end of the weigh-in window to make the mark and returned with a drastic haircut to make 126.

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Cortez has high hopes for where her first feature headliner takes her as an up-and-comer in WMMA. Hence, the snafu hit hard. More to it, an emotional Cortez also had to disrobe and part with a long strand of hair to make the scales. The No. 11-ranked flyweight had come up on super short notice — after Maycee Barber had to withdraw due to injury.

Perhaps in the heat of things, she played a nod to ex-boyfriend Brian Ortega lopping off his locks ahead of UFC Fight Island 6 Official Weigh-ins. After the agonizing decision, Cortez finally made weight on the scales Friday morning. Cortez already has a tough challenge ahead in facing the ‘Thug’ of women’s MMA Rose Namajunas. If anything, this dent would only make her reach higher.

Bantamweight bruiser not impressed by Tracy Cortez’s scale snafu

The main event for UFC’s return to Denver is official after both headliners made weight Friday, but not without Tracy Cortez drama. After making weight Friday morning for the five-round women’s affair, both Cortez and Rose Namajunas had a determined staredown to make things official. UFC Denver is a go; however, “Pretty Girl on the Internet” Cortez and her turmoils have caught the attention of a few.

The Team Fight Ready MMA fighter was booked for a summer showdown with Miranda Maverick. Hence Maverick has already been taking shots at her constantly. As did many other up-and-comers. As a result, she is now also open game to Ailin Perez, who took to Instagram to comment on her snafu.

Wow Tracy Cortez you really had to cut your hair to make weight? You were gifted an amazing opportunity to be a main event versus a former UFC champ and you barely made it,…LOL. What a waste of an opportunity, you are showing your lack of preparation for a moment so big...
Ailin Perez via IG (@ailu.perez.ufc)

The Argentinian is aiming hard for Raquel Pennington’s undisputed gold. To reach that, she has even opened herself up to facing a dangerous new prospect – Olympian Judoka Kayla Harrison. The words from Perez were nasty. As such, it remains to be seen if Cortez has beef with the viral twerking UFC fighter.

While Cortez (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) had an emotional yet steadfast reaction to it all, Perez now slams her for squandering the opportunity. In her version, unlike the 30-year-old, she wouldn’t miss weight if she had a chance to snag gold. Or place herself through hard-hitting title eliminators. All in all, Tracy Cortez’s ordeal has gone quite viral.

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