TLDR
- Erin Blanchfield (13-2) faces Tracy Cortez (12-2) in women’s flyweight bout at UFC 322
- Blanchfield bounced back from Manon Fiorot loss with unanimous decision win over Rose Namajunas in November
- Cortez returned to winning form with decision victory over Viviane Araujo in June after losing to Namajunas
- Both fighters had nine-plus fight win streaks before recent losses derailed their title shot momentum
- Ranked #4 Blanchfield and #8 Cortez both seeking path back to title contention with victory
Erin Blanchfield will face Tracy Cortez in a women’s flyweight matchup on the prelim card of UFC 322. Both fighters are looking to rebuild momentum after recent setbacks in their careers.
Blanchfield enters the fight ranked fourth in the division with a record of 13-2. She had won nine straight fights dating back to June 2019. That streak ended when she lost a unanimous decision to Manon Fiorot in March of last year.
The loss to Fiorot slowed what had been a quick rise through the flyweight rankings. Blanchfield had hoped the winning streak would lead to a title shot. Instead, she needed to prove herself again.
Tracy Cortez "went back to my bread and butter" training for the #UFC322 rematch vs. Erin Blanchfield.
"I believe I have better striking than she does." pic.twitter.com/CYljwmblts
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) November 12, 2025
She did exactly that in November with a unanimous decision win over former champion Rose Namajunas. The victory marked an important milestone for Blanchfield. It was her second time competing for a full five rounds.
Cortez comes into UFC 322 with a similar recent history. She is ranked eighth in the division with a 12-2 record overall. Her UFC record stands at 6-1 since joining the promotion in 2019.
Like Blanchfield, Cortez had been on an extended winning streak before hitting a roadblock. She won 11 consecutive fights before facing Namajunas in July. Cortez lost that fight by unanimous decision.
The bout against Namajunas was Cortez’s first experience going the full five rounds. She has not been particularly active over the past six years. However, she returned to the win column in June with a decision victory over Viviane Araujo.
Fighting Styles and Strengths
Cortez showed her versatility against Araujo in that June fight. She increased her aggression in the later rounds. She also landed three of five takedown attempts and controlled most of the ground time.
Cortez stands 5-foot-5 with a 65.5-inch reach. She is known for her well-rounded skill set across all areas of fighting. She is willing to absorb punches while moving forward.
“It would be a nice time to redeem myself.”
Erin Blanchfield (@blanchfield_mma) is happy to get a chance to avenge her loss to Tracy Cortez in 2019 and potentially earn a shot at the title. #VeChain #UFC322
Fight by Fight Preview ➡️: https://t.co/87hu3xthUQ pic.twitter.com/MtWC6As9wM
— UFC News (@UFCNews) November 13, 2025
Her kicking game works at all three levels. She has only been submitted once in her career. Cortez uses her wrestling effectively and can threaten takedowns while keeping opponents guessing.
Rankings and Title Implications
Blanchfield stands 5-foot-4 with a 66-inch reach. She has gone 7-1 since entering the UFC in 2021. She recorded six consecutive wins with three finishes after joining the promotion.
A win for Cortez over the fourth-ranked Blanchfield would significantly improve her position in the division. It could put her one fight away from a title opportunity. Blanchfield is hoping to secure a title shot with a victory here.
The fight takes place on the prelim card despite both fighters’ high rankings. The UFC 322 main card is stacked with other bouts. Both women will need to make a statement with their performance.
