Tracy Cortez and Stake: Strategic Alignment in Combat Sports
Online gaming giant Stake has officially announced a new global ambassadorial partnership with UFC flyweight contender Tracy Cortez. The agreement represents an ongoing operational push by the platform to deepen its market presence within mixed martial arts (MMA) and mainstream sports betting by leveraging elite athletic talent. Australia-based Stake, which self-identifies as the world’s largest online casino and sportsbook, characterized the collaboration as a significant milestone in its brand growth trajectory within combat sports.
The partnership is confirmed to be immediately active, though specific commercial terms, financial allocations, and the precise contract duration have not been disclosed by either party. Cortez joins an elite roster of high-profile combat sports figures signed to Stake’s marketing framework, which currently features decorated fighters including Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, Max Holloway, Merab Dvalishvili, and Valentina Shevchenko.
Athletic Profile and Brand Synergy
Cortez has established a formidable reputation within the UFC, accumulating an impressive 12-3 career record as she campaigns for her first division title shot. Following a loss in her professional debut in August 2017, she put together a spectacular 11-fight winning streak, coming within a single victory of tying the all-time UFC women’s record for consecutive wins across all divisions. While that historic streak was ultimately broken by Rose Namajunas in July 2024, Cortez has remained highly competitive, secures a victory against Viviane Araújo, and faced top-tier competition in a bout with Erin Blanchfield.
Akhil Sarin, Chief Marketing Officer at Stake, expressed deep optimism regarding the brand alignment and Cortez’s role as a primary face of the company’s sports betting portfolio:
“Tracy Cortez is a phenomenal athlete, who we’re really excited to be partnering with in this new ambassadorial role. She has proven herself to be a real contender in the UFC flyweight division already, and as she comes into her prime, Stake is proud to support her journey. Tracy’s personality and competitive spirit is something which aligns with our values at Stake – she’s fun, the fans love her, and we’re looking forward to bringing a valuable partnership to MMA fans.”
Tracy Cortez also commented on the timing of the arrangement, emphasizing a mutual commitment to delivering authentic fan experiences:
“Partnering with Stake feels like the perfect fit for this chapter of my career. This is a brand at the cutting edge of sports and entertainment, and they value the same grit and authenticity that I bring to every fight. I’m ready to engage with my supporters in a whole new way and take this journey to the next level together.”
Market Analysis: Transitioning Crypto Capital into Mainstream Visibility
From a sports marketing and iGaming industry overview, Stake’s operational roadmap illustrates a highly successful transition from an unconventional crypto betting site to a massive mainstream powerhouse. Historically, the platform established its multi-billion dollar scale by embracing cryptocurrency payment rails, deploying a dual-currency sweepstakes architecture to legally access the complex U.S. market, and executing aggressive social media guerrilla marketing initiatives. This agile tech framework allowed Stake to comfortably outpace traditional fiat-based operators in terms of cross-border player acquisition, culminating in a record-breaking 2025 fiscal year where it captured at least an estimated $4 billion in gross gaming revenue, solidifying its rank as the absolute leader among crypto-native casinos.
However, sustaining this type of high-velocity growth requires migrating out of niche digital circles and securing a permanent hold over traditional sports audiences. To achieve this, Stake has systematically compiled an extensive portfolio of blue-chip mainstream partnerships, spanning multi-million dollar sponsorships with international music icon Drake, the X Games, Everton Football Club, and an official league-level partnership with the UFC itself.
By layering individual athlete sponsorships, like the addition of the highly popular and eighth-ranked Cortez, directly on top of its macro league deals, Stake effectively humanizes its digital identity. This omnichannel marketing loop bridges the gap between complex digital assets and traditional entertainment, ensuring the brand maintains maximum brand recall and continuous fan engagement across heavily regulated global wagering jurisdictions.
