Wang Cong has responded to questions surrounding the illegal knee that occurred during her victory over Tracy Cortez at UFC 329. She suggested the incident may have stemmed from a language and translation misunderstanding regarding the rules.
Wang Cong has spoken out about the illegal knee controversy that emerged from her victory over Tracy Cortez at UFC 329 on July 11, suggesting the incident may have been rooted in a language and translation misunderstanding around the rules.
The 34-year-old Chinese fighter, known as "The Joker," improved to 10-1-0 with the win. Fighting out of a southpaw stance at five-foot-six with a 65-inch reach, Wang Cong has established herself as one of the more prolific strikers in the women's flyweight division, landing 6.82 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place her among the division's most active and efficient competitors.
Cortez, an orthodox fighter from the United States representing Fight Ready, falls to 12-4-0 with the defeat. The 32-year-old ranks tenth in the women's flyweight division and brings a notably grappling-forward game, averaging 2.04 takedowns per 15 minutes. Her striking volume sits at 3.95 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Wang Cong addressed the illegal knee incident publicly following the event, indicating that confusion over the rules may have been a factor — potentially tied to communication barriers between herself and those relaying instructions or rulings during the fight.
Why it matters
- The controversy adds a layer of scrutiny to a result in the women's flyweight top ten, where rankings implications are significant
- Wang Cong's striking output compared to Cortez's grappling-heavy approach made for a contrasting style matchup, and the illegal knee incident has complicated how the finish is being perceived
- How the UFC responds to or formally addresses the incident could affect both fighters' near-term positioning in the division
Saturday, July 11, 2026
