Erin Blanchfield Locks In for Tracy Cortez Rematch and a Title Timeline

NEW YORK — Erin Blanchfield says she barely recognizes the teenager who dropped a split decision to Tracy Cortez in 2019. On Saturday at UFC 322 inside Madison Square Garden, the 26-year-old contender gets her rematch and, she hopes, a fast track to a title shot.

“I was only 19… I was like a kid,” Blanchfield said at media day, “I grew up, had a lot more experience, really locked in that’s the growth I’ve had.”

Blanchfield (13–2 MMA, 7–1 UFC) meets Cortez (12–2 MMA, 6–1 UFC) in a pivotal women’s flyweight bout on the prelims a three-round return after back-to-back five-round assignments against Manon Fiorot (her lone setback since 2019) and a rebound win over Rose Namajunas. A planned May date with Maycee Barber fell through during Barber’s weight cut, stretching Blanchfield’s layoff to nearly a year.

Why this rematch matters now

• Different version, same opponent: The first meeting happened under the Invicta FC banner when Blanchfield was 19. This time, she brings top-tier grappling polish, improved shot selection, and five-round experience.

• Cortez’s climb: A well-rounded wrestler-boxer on a 6–1 UFC run, Cortez enters with the blueprint to make rounds close — strong clinch control, disciplined jab, and measured counters.

• Title calendar: The UFC 322 co-main crowns (or reconfirms) the division’s queen with Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili at 125. Fighting on the same night keeps Blanchfield aligned with the champion’s recovery and media cycle.

• “Being on the same timeline as the champ… makes it that much closer to having a title shot next,” Blanchfield said.

Keys to victory

Blanchfield

• Early level-change threats to force Cortez into reactive shots.

• Top-ride mat returns and wrist control to bank minutes.

• Pocket exits off the right hand to avoid clinch stalls.

Cortez

• Win first contact: jab and underhooks to blunt entries.

• Circle off the fence to deny mat returns.

• Make scrambles costly; kick the legs between shots.

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Robert LaMar is a writer  for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26