By Harshit
LOS ANGELES, JANUARY 1, 2026 — 8 AM EDT
The start of 2026 came with a headline-making moment in the world of combat sports and pop culture, as Alex Pereira and Tracy Cortez publicly confirmed their relationship with a romantic New Year’s kiss shared on social media.
The moment, posted to Cortez’s Instagram Stories shortly after midnight, showed the pair surrounded by sparklers, smiling and visibly affectionate as they welcomed the new year together. The image required little explanation and quickly drew widespread attention from fans across the UFC community.
A Simple Post That Said Everything
Cortez accompanied the video with the caption “Entering 2026,” followed by heart emojis. The understated message, paired with the intimate visual, was enough to spark immediate conversation online.
Adding to the mood was the song playing in the background — Cosita Linda by Elena Rose and Justin Quiles — opening with the lyric “life is beautiful,” a line that mirrored the celebratory tone of the clip.
Pereira’s Quiet Confirmation
Pereira, one of the UFC’s most recognizable champions, opted for a more restrained acknowledgment. Posting to his own Instagram Stories — seen by more than 7.7 million followers — he shared a photo of the two together, his arm around Cortez’s waist as she held sparklers and smiled.
His caption was brief: “New year.”
The image itself confirmed what fans had already inferred from Cortez’s post.
Social Media Reaction
The posts immediately circulated across MMA-focused accounts and fan pages, with reactions ranging from congratulatory messages to surprise at the high-profile pairing. While neither fighter offered additional comments, the visual confirmation marked a clear public step for both athletes.
Both Pereira and Cortez remain active competitors under the UFC banner, and their New Year’s post positioned them as one of the sport’s most talked-about couples heading into 2026.