Tracy Cortez returned to the Octagon for the first time in nine months and defeated Brazil’s Viviane Araújo by unanimous decision on the UFC 317 prelims at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. All three judges scored the three-round flyweight bout 30-27, reflecting Cortez’s control in both the stand-up exchanges and on the mat. After Araújo threatened early with a back take, Cortez reversed position and dictated the grappling for the remainder of the contest, landing ground-and-pound and denying the Brazilian’s submission attempts. The Fight Ready representative also mixed in crisp combinations on the feet, out-working Araújo in every round. The victory lifts the 30-year-old American’s professional mark to 12-2 and 6-1 inside the UFC. Ranked No. 10 entering the event, Cortez said she feels “back where I belong” and is targeting a top-five opponent as the flyweight rankings update next week. UFC 317 is headlined later in the evening by the vacant lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and former champion Charles Oliveira.