Flyweight Titans Battle In Likely Number One Contender Bout At UFC 322

Blanchfield Battles Rising Flyweight Standout at UFC 322

Making her freshman walk to the Octagon this year, Blanchfield will face No. 8-ranked Tracy Cortez at the upcoming UFC 322 event, which is slated to take place on Nov. 15. The current location of UFC 322 is yet to be determined, as well as which venue will host it. 

Arriving in the promotion in 2021, Blanchfield quickly began to make a name for herself as a hot flyweight prospect, garnering key victories over divisional heavy-hitters like Miranda Maverick, JJ Aldrich and Molly McCann. She then announced her legitimacy as a champion hopeful with further statement-making wins over Jéssica Andrade and Talia Santos. This stellar run set the table for a high-stakes confrontation with French phenom Manon Fiorot at UFC on ESPN 54, where she lost the first bout of her UFC tenure and first shot at the belt by unanimous decision to “The Beast.” 

Missing out the chance to vie for organizational gold, Blanchfield set her sights on a magnificent rebound opposite former two-time strawweight queen Rose Namajunas at UFC Fight Night 246. In one of the closest women’s fights of 2024, “Cold Blooded” was just able to eke out a close unanimous decision over “Thug,” reasserting her place in the race for the flyweight championship.

Cortez Embarked on Steady Journey Ahead of UFC 322 in November

Securing her spot on the roster after a successful appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series as a bantamweight, Tracy Cortez quickly made the move down to flyweight for her third scrap in the promotion in 2021. The Arizona native competing on UFC 322 wasted little time in propelling her way toward contendership with victories against Justine Kish, Melissa Gatto and Jasmine Jasudavicius.

Although she had all the makings of a future title challenger, her 11-fight win streak that she held at the time would be snuffed out by the aforementioned Namajunas at UFC on ESPN 59, falling to the previous 115-lb gold standard by unanimous decision. 

Heading into UFC 322 later on this year, Cortez already has a bit of experience competing with Blanchfield, as she became the first woman to hand her first setback as a professional back in 2019 during the pair’s Invicta FC days.

Should the 31-year old manage to topple the flyweight juggernaut a second time in UFC 322, Cortez can easily compile her own argument for a pay-per-view main card inclusion sometime in 2026.