In a rematch from their Invicta FC days, Erin Blanchfield and Tracy Cortez faced off at UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Blanchfield was just 19 years young for that 2019 meeting, and had lost a split decision in what was then her fourth career fight. After joining Cortez in the UFC, the rematch seemed inevitable, and finally arrived on Saturday, the flyweights battling it out on the same night that the future of the division, in the form of Shevchenko vs. Zhang, would be decided.
Cortez fired a leg kick, and Blanchfield pumped her jab in the opening minute of the fight; Cortez returned fire with some looping hooks on both sides. The pair would trade back-and-forth for the first couple of minutes, which played out entirely on the feet, with both women landing. As the round passed the halfway mark, Cortez seemingly started the pull away, mixing in a knee and a right hand fluidly. That right hand was there time and again for Cortez, catching Blanchfield when she closed the distance.
Oddly, despite being ahead on the feet, it was Cortez who briefly changed levels, perhaps thinking of a takedown. She quickly bailed on that; in the final 30 seconds, Cortez popped off an uppercut, landed a jab, and ate one in response from Blanchfield. Cortez would double if not triple up on her jab to end the frame.
Cortez would land a takedown attempt inside of a minute into round two. That, however, backfired, as Blanchfield was able to reverse the position. The pair reversed the position, and now it was Erin Blanchfield in the driver’s seat, a bodylock in place. They scrambled up, and wound up back at center, where Blanchfield appeared to how found her rhythm. A much better start to the round for Blanchfield, who would land another takedown off a bodylock and a trip with two minutes left on the clock. Blanchfield move into half-guard, and went looking for the arm-triangle choke.
Despite the awkward spot, Cortez was able to escape, and get back to her feet with about a minute to go. That, however, was short-lived. Blanchfield droe Cortez across the cage, landing another takedown. Cortez came back up, but with her opponent still on her back, and Blanchfield took her right back down. This time, she already had a choke in deep, having set it up while they were still standing! Cortez was tapping a moment later, and Blanchfield had her revenge!
Official Result: Erin Blanchfield def. Tracy Cortez by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 4:44
