UFC 322 results: Erin Blanchfield scores late submission of Tracy Cortez
After being put to the test by Tracy Cortez’s boxing skills for nearly two rounds, flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield finally moved on to her wrestling A-game on Saturday.
It didn’t take long for the fight to be over.
Blanchfield (14-2) took a big step closer to a possible 125-pound title shot by submitting Cortez (12-3) via rear-naked choke in the second round of their rematch at UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden. The finish came at 4:44 as Blanchfield avenged a split decision loss to Cortez on the regional MMA scene at Invicta FC 34 in 2019.
“I’m really excited,” Blanchfield said. “I really wanted to avenge this [loss]”.
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Cortez controlled the first round with quick hands and knees to the body in the clinch. But it was a competitive round in which Blanchfield failed to attempt a single takedown.
That finally changed in the second round after a series of even exchanges on the feet that saw both flyweights suffer nosebleeds. But it was Cortez who ultimately fired first with a successful double leg takedown that Blanchfield reversed.
Blanchfield’s first shot came soon after, but it was Cortez, thanks to a blatant fence grab that referee Blake Grice never saw, who quickly got back to his feet. Blanchfield, visibly frustrated, then turned a standing clinch into a running takedown attempt across the cage that ended with a quick takedown of Cortez’s back on the ground.
Shortly after Blanchfield applied the choke and fell backwards, Cortez was quick to kick out.
“I actually didn’t think the choke was very tight, but I could feel the pressure forcing her to quit,” Blanchfield said.
With the win, Blanchfield improved to 8-1 in the UFC after picking up her second straight victory following a loss to Manon Fiorot in a 2024 No. 1 contender’s bout via unanimous decision.
Cortez, who began his UFC career with five straight victories, accumulated his second loss in his last three fights.
