MMA Junkie has live coverage of UFC 322 with round-by-round analysis of every fight.
Erin Blanchfield has exacted her revenge.
Saturday at UFC 322, Blanchfield (14-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) submitted Tracy Cortez (12-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) via rear-naked choke at 4:44 of Round 2 of their flyweight bout at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Blanchfield found her biggest advantages, unsurprisingly, in the grappling department. She repeatedly tried to drag the fight to the canvas, while Cortez attempted to fend off takedowns and impose her striking.
A big Blanchfield takedown late in Round 2 – one that stretched nearly all the way across the canvas – marked the beginning of the end for Cortez. Blanchfield quickly moved to the back and rolled as she trapped Cortez's left arm between her legs. Blanchfield sunk in the rear-naked choke and got the tap.
With the win, Blanchfield conceivably could've positioned herself as next in line for the winner of Saturday's title fight co-main event between champion Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili. She also avenged a loss from 2019 under the Invicta banner. Cortez defeated Blanchfield by split decision in that one, though the judges' scorecards were highly disputed by many viewers.
Blanchfield has won back-to-back fights since her lone UFC loss, which was a dominant decision defeat to Manon Fiorot in March 2024. Cortez falls to 1-2 in her most recent three.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 322 results:
- Erin Blanchfield def. Tracy Cortez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:44
- Ethyn Ewing def. Malcolm Wellmaker via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Kyle Daukaus def. Gerald Meerschaert via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 1, 0:50
- Pat Sabatini def. Chepe Mariscal via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Fatima Kline def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric McConico via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 1:38
- Matheus Camilo def. Viacheslav Borshchev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 322 results: Erin Blanchfield exacts revenge over Tracy Cortez
Reporting by Nolan King, MMA Junkie / MMA Junkie
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