Stake Signs UFC Fighter Tracy Cortez as Global Ambassador
This marks another step for the company into mixed martial arts. Stake has long built its marketing around MMA and signed popular fighters, and the new contract continues that trend. The parties did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
Who Cortez Is
Cortez competes in the women’s flyweight division and is ranked eighth in the division. Her professional record stands at 12 wins and 3 losses. She joined the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2019 and went on to rack up a streak of 11 consecutive wins.
Cortez was born in Phoenix, Arizona. She took up combat sports at age 14 after her brother’s death. She is now heading toward the first title fight of her career.
What the Stake Deal Offers
Cortez joins the ranks of UFC fighters who are already partnering with the brand. The company’s current ambassadors include Alex Pereira, Max Holloway, Merab Dvalishvili, Kayo Borralho, and Alexandre Pantoja. The term of the agreement and its financial terms remain confidential. It is also unclear exactly which promotional activities the athlete will participate in.
Stake’s Chief Marketing Officer, Akhil Sarin, noted that Cortez was chosen both for her ranking and for her image, which aligns with the brand. Cortez herself said that the partnership coincided with a new phase in her career.
Using Combat Sports as a Marketing Channel
For Stake, this is part of a broader effort to promote the brand through sports. The company is the official betting partner of the UFC, and contracts with individual fighters strengthen its presence within MMA’s most popular promotion. Through these ambassadors, the brand reaches an audience of athletes on social media, where top fighters have millions of followers.
Stake takes an aggressive approach to marketing. In addition to MMA, the brand has partnerships in soccer and the entertainment industry, including collaborations with Drake and several well-known soccer players. The company operates on cryptocurrency and uses a dual-currency model for the U.S. market. According to estimates for 2025, its gross gaming revenue amounted to at least $4 billion, making Stake the largest crypto casino by this metric. Signing a female fighter also signals growing commercial interest in women’s MMA, where brands are increasingly investing in female athletes with large digital followings.