New York, NY – Flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield is in action at UFC 322, in a rematch that has been in the works for years.
Since arriving in the UFC, Blanchfield (13-2) has been consistently asked about a rematch with Tracy Cortez after losing a split decision to her in 2019 under the Invicta FC banner. In fact, that was her only loss until a setback against Manon Fiorot in March 2024 (she has since bounced back with a win over Rose Namajunas).
“I think the timing has finally come together, it was supposed to happen,” Blanchfield said, speaking in front of Cageside Press during Wednesday’s UFC 322 media day, of the rematch’s long-awaited arrival. “The division is kind of stuck at the top with super fights. So I think it just makes sense now.”
As for what has changed since the couple first met, “I think the biggest change is that I just grew up,” Blanchfield said. “I was only 19 years old when I fought her the first time, I was like a child.”
Losing the first fight in such short order can be seen as motivation, but it’s not something that really drives Blanchfield years later. Instead, she explained, “I think it’s more personal to myself as a fighter, just to prove to myself how much I’ve grown. And to my coaches and everything, that really showed the work that we put in, and that’s what I want to show on Saturday.”
It’s been a year since Blanchfield last fought, after Maycee Barber withdrew from main event billing just before the fight was expected to start. Blanchfield had hoped to return sooner, “but that didn’t work out,” she noted. It’s nothing new. “Before I made my UFC debut, I was looking for, before that, I didn’t fight for 14 months, and I could go in there and finish that fight. So I expect the same from this one.”
Watch Erin Blanchfield’s full UFC 322 media day appearance above.
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