New York, NY — Flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield is in action at UFC 322, in a rematch that has been years in the making.
Since arriving in the UFC, Blanchfield (13-2) has been asked, consistently, about a rematch with Tracy Cortez after losing a split decision to her in 2019, under the Invicta FC banner. That, in fact, was her lone loss until a setback against Manon Fiorot in March 2024 (she’s since bounced back with a win over Rose Namajunas).
“I think the timing just finally worked out, it was meant to happen,” Blanchfield said, addressing the long-awaited arrival of the rematch during Wednesday’s UFC 322 media day, with Cageside Press in attendance. “The division is a little bit stalled at the top with super-fights. So I think it just makes sense now.”
As for what has changed since the pair’s first meeting, “I think the biggest change is that I just grew up,” stated Blanchfield. “I was only 19 years old when I fought her the first time, I was like a kid.”
Losing the first fight in such a close fashion might be looked at as motivation, but it isn’t something really driving Blanchfield years later. Instead, she explained that “I think it’s more personal for myself as a fighter just to prove to myself how much I’ve grown. And to my coaches and everything, that the work we’ve put in has really shown, and that’s what I want to show on Saturday.”
It’s been a year since Blanchfield last fought, after Maycee Barber pulled out of a main event billing moments before the bout was expected to kick off. Blanchfield had hoped to return sooner, “but then it didn’t work out,” she noted. It’s nothing new. “Before I made my UFC debut, I was out for like, I didn’t fight for 14 months before that, and I was able to go in there and kill that fight. So I’m expecting the same from this one.”
Watch the full UFC 322 media day appearance by Erin Blanchfield above.
