UFC 322 – Erin Blanchfield vs Tracy Cortez: Preview & Betting Tips

A pivotal women’s flyweight matchup lands on the UFC 322 undercard as top contender Erin Blanchfield meets rising challenger Tracy Cortez.

Blanchfield (13-2) enters the bout as one of the brightest young talents in the UFC. Known for her suffocating grappling, polished fundamentals, and composure beyond her years, Blanchfield has built her rise on dominant positional control and relentless pressure.

Cortez (12-2) has quietly pieced together a strong UFC run, using a well-rounded style built on wrestling, pressure boxing, and strong defensive instincts. She is physically strong for the division and rarely gets bullied in clinch situations.

Tale of the Tape

Erin Blanchfield – Odds 1.4 

Record: 13-2

Age: 26

Height: 5ft4

Reach: 66”

Weight: Flyweight 

Stance: Orthodox 

Tracy Cortez – Odds 2.88 

Record: 12-2

Age: 31

Height: 5ft5

Reach: 65”

Weight: Flyweight 

Stance: Orthodox 

Erin Blanchfield vs Tracy Cortez: Analysis

What makes Blanchfield so dangerous is efficiency. She rarely wastes energy, manages distance well, and uses her striking to funnel opponents into grappling exchanges. While not an elite striker yet, she has improved significantly, especially in jab setups and defensive awareness. Most importantly, she doesn’t panic under fire and has proven she can adjust mid-fight.

Her biggest potential weakness in this matchup is dealing with opponents who can match her physical strength and wrestling base. If forced to strike for long stretches, she sometimes becomes hittable, especially early in fights.

Cortez’s boxing offers a clear edge in this matchup. She throws tighter combinations than Blanchfield, works behind an effective jab, and places her shots well during exiting angles. Her ability to maintain balance while striking allows her to sprawl cleanly or counter-wrestle effectively.

On the ground, Cortez is not as technical as Blanchfield, but she is extremely difficult to hold down and excels at scrambling back to her feet. Her defensive grappling is one of the most underrated aspects of her game.

Blanchfield vs Cortez: Prediction & Betting Tips

The biggest concern for Cortez is pace. Blanchfield can push a grueling tempo for three rounds; Cortez prefers controlled exchanges and structured grappling sequences. If she gets stuck reacting instead of dictating, it becomes a tough night.

Cortez will likely have early success with boxing and strong defensive grappling, but Blanchfield’s pace, chain wrestling, and top control should accumulate over time. Expect a competitive start that gradually shifts in Blanchfield’s favour as the fight becomes more grind-heavy.

My pick is Erin Blanchfield to win by decision or technical decision at odds of 1.73 . It will likely be a 29-28 decision with Cortez winning round 1, and Blanchfield winning the last 2.