UFC 322 results: Erin Blanchfield rallies to submit Tracy Cortez in Round 2, moves closer to title shot
Blanchfield was struggling to find a rhythm before securing a choke late in the second round and getting the tap
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1 min read
After getting picked apart on the feet by Tracy Cortez's boxing skills for nearly two rounds, women's flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield finally shifted to her A-game of wrestling on Saturday.
It didn't take long after that until the fight was over.
Blanchfield (14-2) took a huge step closer toward a possible 125-pound title shot by submitting Cortez (12-3) via rear-naked choke in Round 2 of their rematch at UFC 322 inside 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]."
Be sure to keep up with all the action on Saturday with our live coverage of UFC 322, including round-by-round scoring and updated fight results throughout the night!
Cortez controlled the opening round with her 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 eventually changed in Round 2 after a series of even exchanges on the feet that saw both flyweights bleed from the nose. But it was Cortez who ultimately shot first with a successful double-leg takedown that Blanchfield reversed.
Blanchfield's first shot came shortly after but it was Cortez, thanks to a blatant grab of the fence that referee Blake Grice never saw, that quickly returned to her feet. A visibly frustrated Blanchfield then turned a standing clinch into a running takedown attempt across the cage that ended with her quickly taking the back of Cortez on the ground.
What a performance from @Blanchfield_MMA 💪
— UFC (@ufc) November 16, 2025
She gets the submission in round two! #VeChain #UFC322 pic.twitter.com/eWWsEi9c5v
Shortly after Blanchfield applied the choke and fell backwards, Cortez was quick to tap out.
"I actually didn't think the choke was super tight but I could feel the pressure forced her to tap out," Blanchfield said.
With the win, Blanchfield improved to 8-1 in the UFC after winning her second straight following a loss to Manon Fiorot in a 2024 No. 1 contender's bout via unanimous decision.
Cortez, who began her UFC career with five straight wins, accumulated her second loss in her last three fights.
