The world of mixed martial arts has a new headline-grabbing duo to start 2026. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and flyweight contender Tracy Cortez have officially revealed they are a couple, sharing intimate New Year's Day photos that set social media ablaze.
A New Year's Revelation
The romance went public in the early hours of January 1, 2026. Tracy Cortez, 32, posted a photo to her Instagram story showing her sharing a kiss with Pereira in a snowy setting, sparklers in hand. Shortly after, Alex Pereira, 38, known by his nickname "Poatan," shared his own snapshot on Instagram. The image showed the Brazilian champion smiling behind Cortez, both wearing matching sweaters, confirming their status as the UFC's newest power couple.
Fan Buzz and Language Questions
The announcement immediately ignited discussions among fans, with a primary focus on how the pair communicates. Cortez is an American of Mexican descent who speaks English and Spanish, while Pereira is from Brazil and is a native Portuguese speaker. This linguistic detail became a hot topic on platforms like Reddit and X.
Many fans pointed out the similarities between Spanish and Portuguese, suggesting they could find common ground. "Spanish and Portuguese have extremely similar spellings but pronounce words differently," one commenter noted. Others added that Pereira understands some English but prefers not to speak it publicly, and that Cortez has some knowledge of Portuguese.
Connection Forged in Brazil
The couple's bond appears to have strengthened during Cortez's recent training camp. At Christmas, she posted about spending the holidays away from home, focused on "training, bettering my craft, evolving, growing in every way possible" in Brazil. She expressed deep gratitude to the renowned Pitbull Brothers martial arts team, founded by brothers Patricio and Patricky Freire, for making her feel at home.
Meanwhile, Pereira is currently on the mend, recovering from a broken foot sustained after his last title defense at UFC 320 in October. The champion, whose nickname means "stone hands" in the indigenous Tupi language, is known for his devastating punching power.
Social Media Reacts to MMA's New Pair
The unexpected pairing took many fans by surprise. "Poatan and Tracy Cortez dating is the most unexpected MMA romance," one user wrote on X. Another supporter commented, "Tracy and Alex stepping into the new year together is the ultimate power move. Wishing them all the happiness ahead." The union of two elite fighters from different weight classes and cultural backgrounds has undoubtedly become one of the first major talking points in the sports world for 2026.
