Tracy Cortez Dedicates Noche UFC Win to Henry Cejudo’s Late Sister

Flyweight prospect Tracy Cortez took on Jasmine Jasudavicius in the prelims at Noche UFC on Saturday night.

While Cortez started strong, landing the seemingly heavier shots in the opening frame, Jasudavicius bounced back in the second frame with accurate counters and two late takedowns. Although both fighters threw with intent in the final round, Cortez appeared to land the more damaging shots to edge out a hard-fought unanimous decision win.

During the post-fight media scrum, the Phoenix native revealed she had received the unfortunate news of the death of Henry Cejudo’s sister, Gloria Nelly Cejudo, who lost a two-year battle with cancer a day before the fight. Cortez, who has known the Cejudo family for years, hardly had time to grieve the death of someone she called a “big sister.”

“I was extremely emotional because yesterday I got a call, from, I’m gonna say my family, because I’ve known them my entire life,” Cortez said. “That someone really close to my heart had passed away. So, I had to just be very professional and be very disciplined and show up.”

Cortez, who has won five straight UFC appearances, dedicated her latest victory to Cejudo’s sibling.

“She was a big sister,” Cortez said. “She was a big sister and cancer’s a nasty disease. I just wanna honor her. And I wanted to perform to the best that I can. And I wanna dedicate this fight to her.”