When it comes to high-profile figures in the MMA world, keeping personal matters private is nearly impossible. That was certainly the case for UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega and UFC flyweight Tracy Cortez. Once seen as MMA’s power couple, their romance was far from low-key. Rumors of an engagement had fans thinking wedding bells were just around the corner. But in 2023, things took an unexpected turn. A cryptic social media post from former title challenger Paulo Costa sparked speculation. And shortly after, Ortega and Cortez went their separate ways. While neither party confirmed the exact reason for the breakup, it became clear that the split wasn’t amicable. Like many public breakups, both had their own side of the story.

Cortez made her stance clear with a pointed message: “Everyone out here talking ‘bout I fumbled. Y’all must not know the rules of the game. When you drop the ball on accident, that’s a fumble, but when you throw it away on purpose—that’s called a complete pass.” Meanwhile, ‘T-City’ opened up about feeling “betrayed,” admitting the emotional fallout impacted his professional life as well.

And that was that. But recently, things heated up again when an Instagram post by MMA Pack showed Tracy Cortez alongside rising UFC middleweight star Caio Borralho, captioned: “Caio Borralho and Tracy Cortez.” Naturally, the internet lit up with renewed curiosity about the flyweight star’s personal life.

But, not burst anyone’s bubble in case they were thinking the obvious, we must point out that Caio Borralho is married to a woman Laís Mori, who he has a son with. So this appearance with Cortez might be just that—a hangout between two UFC stars. Perhaps they got some training done together?

The Brazilian, now ranked #6 in the middleweight division, remains undefeated in the UFC following two dominant wins on Dana White’s Contender Series. He’s now on the cusp of title contention. Tracy Cortez, on the other hand, has kept things private, though her recent loss to former champ Rose Namajunas slightly blemished her previously spotless UFC record. As for Brian Ortega, it’s been a tough road after losing out to UFC 314 title challenger Diego Lopes in his last outing.

Moreover, a string of injuries and personal setbacks have stalled his momentum, and he’s currently 1-3 in his last four fights. Despite that, it seems ‘T-City’ is finding some peace—and perhaps even personal victories—outside the cage. Let’s take a deeper dive into where Brian Ortega stands today in his journey beyond the Octagon.

Brian Ortega opened up about reuniting with his family

Long before his high-profile romance with Tracy Cortez, Brian Ortega shared a deep-rooted relationship with Stephanie Roberts, a 2009 high school graduate. Together, the two built a life and welcomed two children. However, their relationship eventually came to an end, and following their split, Ortega moved on and began dating the UFC 125fer. That relationship quickly became a fan-favorite story within the MMA community, often making headlines.

But despite the public attention, it came to a bitter end, with both Ortega and Cortez parting ways under less-than-ideal circumstances. Still, there was a silver lining to Ortega’s heartbreak—it brought him back to where his heart truly belonged: his family. After the breakup, Ortega reconnected with Stephanie Roberts, and the two eventually tied the knot.

Now back with his children and the woman he once lost, Ortega has expressed immense gratitude for this second shot at building a life together. In a candid conversation with senior MMA journalist Jevon Lope, ‘T-City’ opened up about the dark period he went through—both personally and professionally. He admitted losing his confidence, watching his career spiral, and feeling like nothing in life was going his way. But everything changed when Stephanie chose to give their relationship another chance.

“I was in a place where, you know, your self-confidence is gone, and life just isn’t going right,” Ortega recalled. “My career was falling apart, and I’d look at my body and think, ‘Man, nothing’s working.’ But the one thing that finally did go right was rekindling my relationship with my wife—having my family back. That was the biggest win I could ever ask for. And honestly, it’s the only one I really needed. That’s what gave me the will to keep fighting.”

Now, as for Tracy Cortez and Caio Borralho—it may be jumping the gun to draw conclusions from a single photo, but the buzz is undeniable. If there’s any truth to the speculation and the pair decide to go public, rest assured, we’ll have all the updates for you.