Tracy Cortez sat down with Fighters Only’s Paul Browne ahead of her rematch with Erin Blanchfield at UFC 322, discussing how both fighters have evolved since their first meeting, the respect she has for Blanchfield’s rise, and the pressure-fueled mindset driving her into fight week.
Tracy Cortez expects an entirely new challenge when she faces Erin Blanchfield for the second time this weekend.
Cortez (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) earned a split-decision win over Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) when they first met under the Invicta banner in 2019. As they prepare to square off again at UFC 322 this Saturday, Cortez knows that her previous victory doesn’t carry much weight now.
“In that first fight we were both so young, you know, even my victory: Yes, I won, but I still don't take her lightly,” Cortez told Fighters Only. “She's made a name for herself. And I'm not a disrespectful person. And I give my hats off to her and give my respects to her because you don't get this far by accident. Not just anybody gets to be the number four in the UFC. So if you look back, she's evolved, and I would be very ignorant if I didn't respect her evolution as an as an athlete.
“But as well, I've evolved. I'm not the same athlete I was when I first fought her. I've grown so much, and if you look back at our first fight, her evolution, including my evolution, we're two different athletes; our IQ levels have gone up. So it's going to be a completely different fight. I think the intensity will still be there and if anything, I do believe that there's going to be a lot more emotion because of the history and the way things are playing out right now.”
Both fighters enter this weekend’s bout at Madison Square Garden in strong form. Cortez defeated Viviane Araujo at UFC 317 in June, while Blanchfield earned a win over former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in her most recent outing.
With the UFC flyweight title on the line in Saturday’s co-main event between Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili, a decisive win for either Cortez or Blanchfield could set up a title shot in 2026.
“It definitely adds more fuel to the fire, absolutely!,” Cortez smiles. “I've always been one of a person that thrives off pressure. It's almost like, give it to me. I want to feel it because I love when I feel that pressure. It's almost like that fire gets lit up within me, you know? I don't know how to explain it. I really don't know how to explain it other than come Saturday night, you'll see it.”
