The women’s flyweight showdown between Viviane Araújo and Tracy Cortez is a prelim bout at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s an important clash between two top-10 contenders looking to break into title contention in a division currently ruled by Alexa Grasso.

Viviane Araújo

Viviane Araújo is a veteran Brazilian contender with a reputation for explosive striking, heavy top control, and submission threat. A former Pancrase champion, she holds a professional record of 13–6 with 3 knockouts and 4 submissions.

Araújo’s UFC tenure has featured a mix of impressive wins and setbacks against elite competition. She’s beaten fighters like Jennifer Maia, Andrea Lee, and Alexis Davis by unanimous decision, showing her ability to control range and tempo. However, she’s lost to top-tier flyweights such as Alexa Grasso, Katlyn Chookagian, Amanda Ribas, and Natália Silva—usually by being out-volumed over three or five rounds.

Most recently, Araújo bounced back with a clear unanimous decision win over Karine Silva at UFC 309 in November 2024. That fight showed she can still out-grapple and out-strike solid opposition despite being 38 years old. But questions remain about her cardio in hard, wrestling-heavy battles.

Viviane Araújo – Last 5 Fights:

1. Win vs. Karine Silva – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC 309, November 16, 2024)
2. Loss vs. Natália Silva – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC Fight Night, February 3, 2024)
3. Win vs. Jennifer Maia – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC Fight Night, October 14, 2023)
4. Loss vs. Amanda Ribas – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC 285, March 4, 2023)
5. Loss vs. Alexa Grasso – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC Fight Night, October 15, 2022)

Araújo’s style is built around fast, powerful boxing combinations and level changes. She’s dangerous early but can fade if pushed at a high pace.

Tracy Cortez

Tracy Cortez is a rising American contender with a strong wrestling base, disciplined boxing, and excellent clinch control. She sports an 11–2 professional record with 9 decision wins, 1 knockout, and 1 submission.

Cortez has quietly built a reputation as one of the division’s most consistent grinders. She’s not a big finisher, but she wins rounds with smart pressure, takedowns, and tight positional control. Her UFC wins include decisions over Jasmine Jasudavicius, Melissa Gatto, and Justine Kish.

Her last fight was a five-round main-event loss to Rose Namajunas in July 2024. Though she dropped the decision, she proved she could compete over 25 minutes with a former strawweight champion, showing toughness and cardio in a high-paced fight.

Tracy Cortez – Last 5 Fights:

1. Loss vs. Rose Namajunas – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC on ESPN, July 13, 2024)
2. Win vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC Fight Night, September 16, 2023)
3. Win vs. Melissa Gatto – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC 274, May 7, 2022)
4. Win vs. Justine Kish – Decision (Split) (UFC on ESPN, April 17, 2021)
5. Win vs. Stephanie Egger – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC Fight Night, October 11, 2020)

Cortez’s biggest assets are her durability, cardio, and wrestling transitions. She rarely loses composure and excels at nullifying opponents against the fence and on the mat.

Prediction

Tracy Cortez def. Viviane Araújo via Decision (Unanimous)

I see Cortez absorbing some early damage but imposing her game plan. Her wrestling should blunt Araújo’s explosiveness, and her consistent top control will sway the judges. While Araújo is dangerous in the first round, Cortez’s superior cardio, pressure, and fight IQ make her the safer pick to win a competitive but clear decision.

Expect a gritty, tactical fight with Cortez wearing on Araújo in the clinch and on the ground to take a 29-28 or 30-27 on the scorecards.