Henry Cejudo, a former UFC double champion and Olympic gold medalist, found himself at the center of a humorous mix-up during a live interaction with rising flyweight star Tracy Cortez. The incident occurred when Cejudo confidently misstated several key facts about Cortez’s upcoming fight, leading to confusion and laughter from both Cortez and their audience. This unexpected blunder quickly went viral, highlighting that even renowned athletes can stumble outside the cage.
Live Mix-Up During Fight Week Announcement
The moment unfolded as Henry Cejudo appeared alongside Tracy Cortez, intending to send good luck wishes ahead of her fight. However, Cejudo mistakenly referenced the wrong city, fight date, and even confusing Tracy with a different opponent. Cejudo said,
“Good luck this week. I know your fight’s taking place in Jersey, June 7th.”
The cameraperson corrected him, explaining, “Not Jersey. International Fight Week.” To which Cortez responded in surprise and amusement,
“Vegas. Bro, what? June 28th. You’re thinking about Ariane.”
This revealed that Cejudo had mixed up Tracy Cortez with Ariane Lipski, an entirely separate competitor.
Cejudo quickly acknowledged the error with a light-hearted “my bad, my bad,” and attempted to recover by reiterating encouragement:
“Tracy, I know you have a big weekend coming up…”
Despite his efforts, the mix-up only deepened the amusement for everyone present, marking a rare moment where Cejudo was visibly thrown off his game.
Context Behind the Fight Schedules
Tracy Cortez is preparing for a critical bout against Viviane Araujo scheduled for June 28 at UFC 317 in Las Vegas. This matchup follows Cortez’s recent loss to Rose Namajunas and is viewed as a pivotal opportunity for her to regain momentum. Meanwhile, Ariane Lipski is set to face Wang Cong on June 7 in Newark, which likely contributed to Cejudo’s confusion during the live greeting.
While fans chuckled at the mistake, it underscored how even experts can struggle to keep track of multiple fighters and events, especially given the busy fight calendar. Cejudo’s stature as a veteran and former double champion usually commands accuracy in such announcements, but this slip-up was accepted with good humor.
Henry Cejudo’s Recent Triumph in Kazakhstan
Just days before this on-air mix-up, Henry Cejudo demonstrated his elite grappling skills in Kazakhstan by defeating former ONE flyweight champion Kairat Akhmetov at Alash Pride 108. The bout, although a grappling match rather than MMA, highlighted Cejudo’s exceptional wrestling talent and control. Through precise technique, he avoided Akhmetov’s attempts at submission, executed two takedowns, and maintained dominant ground control to earn a decision win.
This victory was Cejudo’s first competitive win since 2020 and served as a reminder of his status as one of the top combat sports athletes of his generation. The stark contrast between his focused performance in Kazakhstan and the comedic blunder on social media sparked discussion among fans about which moment would be more memorable.
The Broader Impact of Cejudo’s Public Error
Henry Cejudo’s gaffe during the Instagram interaction illustrates the pressures and challenges faced by fighters who are under constant public scrutiny. As “Triple C” prepares for a potential farewell fight, he is likely to be more cautious with his public statements moving forward. For Tracy Cortez, the incident brought additional attention to her upcoming bout and provided a moment of shared levity amid intense fight preparations.
This episode serves as a reminder that even the most accomplished athletes can face moments of vulnerability outside their specialty, reinforcing their humanity despite their professional success. Fans and followers now await Cejudo’s next steps as he looks to end his career on a high note, hoping for both sharp performances in the cage and off.