May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez following her victory against Melissa Gatto during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

mma

Tracy Cortez And Erin Blanchfield Set To Settle Six Year Rivalry In Explosive UFC 322 Rematch!

May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez following her victory against Melissa Gatto during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Sometimes the best fights grow from genuine competition between two fighters who know each other’s strengths and weaknesses like the back of their gloves. That’s exactly what fans are getting when Tracy Cortez and Erin Blanchfield step into the octagon again at UFC 322 on November 15th. These two women have unfinished business that dates back to February 2019. They first threw down under the Invicta FC banner in what many considered a fight that could have gone either way.

Back then, both fighters were hungry prospects trying to make their mark in women’s MMA. Cortez managed to edge out Blanchfield in a split decision after 15 minutes of back-and-forth action, but anyone who watched that fight knew it wasn’t really settled. Split decisions leave everyone wanting more, and this rematch has been brewing ever since both women made their way to the UFC.

Different Roads To The Same Destination

The paths these fighters took to get back to each other tell completely different stories. Cortez used her Invicta victory as a springboard to the Contender Series. She eventually built an impressive 6-1 UFC record. Her only stumble came against former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in July 2024.

Meanwhile, Blanchfield took the long road to redemption after that early career setback. She’s put together an incredible 10-1 record since losing to Cortez, with a 7-1 mark inside the UFC octagon. Her most recent performance was particularly sweet. She defeated the same Rose Namajunas who had beaten Cortez, showing just how much she’s evolved as a fighter. Currently sitting at number 4 in the women’s flyweight rankings, Blanchfield has turned herself into a legitimate title contender. This creates an interesting dynamic where both women have faced the same high-level opponent, giving fans a unique way to measure their current abilities.

Tracy Cortez vs Erin Blanchfield Fight: High Stakes At Madison Square Garden

What makes this rematch so compelling isn’t just the history between these two women. It’s the timing and what’s at stake. Cortez comes in riding momentum from her victory over Viviane Araujo at UFC 317. She’s proven she can bounce back from adversity and wants to show that her early victory over Blanchfield wasn’t a fluke. On the flip side, Blanchfield has the higher ranking and better recent resume, but she’s carrying the psychological weight of their first encounter.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MMA Junkie (@mmajunkie)

UFC 322 is expected to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The card is potentially headlined by Islam Makhachev challenging Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title. While that main event will certainly draw attention, fans should not sleep on this women’s flyweight clash. When these two step into the cage in November, they won’t just be fighting for rankings or paychecks. They will be settling a rivalry that’s defined both of their careers in different ways, and six years is a long time to wait for round two!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Erin Blanchfield

Tracy Cortez

UFC 322

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!