{"id":278295,"date":"2025-11-12T12:52:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T12:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/278295\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T12:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T12:52:11","slug":"tracy-cortez-targets-title-shot-with-statement-win-vs-erin-blanchfield-at-ufc-322","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/278295\/","title":{"rendered":"Tracy Cortez targets title shot with \u201cstatement\u201d win vs. Erin Blanchfield at UFC 322"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of arguably the biggest fight of her career at UFC 322, UFC star Tracy Cortez spoke with MMA KO\u2019s Drew Beaupr\u00e9 about fighting Erin Blanchfield at Madison Square Garden with a potential flyweight title shot on the line. <\/p>\n

A Rematch Nearly Six Years In The Making<\/p>\n

Cortez and Blanchfield actually met earlier on in their fighting careers at Invicta FC 34 in 2019. That initial fight saw Cortez hand Blanchfield the first loss of her MMA career, and now the two women are set to square off again on a massive stage at UFC 322.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: UFC axes several veteran fighters, including TUF winner and heavyweight fan favorite<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve both kind of been in the game for about the same timeframe. And due to personal life issues, I haven\u2019t been able to be as active, and I\u2019ve just seen her on the rise. And I mean, on my end, I know this is a very competitive sport and very violent sport, but me as a person, I\u2019m not a violent person, I\u2019m not a hateful person. And it\u2019s very admirable seeing her accomplishments from one woman to another. And it was inevitable, I knew the time was gonna come where we were gonna face each other again, and I mean, what better place than Madison Square Garden?”<\/p>\n

\"Erin<\/p>\n

Erin Blanchfield (red gloves) walks to the Octagon to fight Manon Fiorot (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Boardwalk Hall. | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

\u201cI try to like gaslight myself \u2013 it\u2019s cool, MSG is cool. But I mean, realistically, if I let the little girl inside me come out, it\u2019s just one of those things that I think every professional athlete dreams of. That atmosphere, New York, the Big Apple, MSG, Mike Tyson\u2019s fought there. The best of the best, these legends, and to be fighting there for such an important spot, where just a few people down the main card, the girls are also gonna be fighting for the title is just like, \u201cI\u2019m right there\u201d\u2026It\u2019s gonna be a very historic night I think, for the women\u2019s divisions. It\u2019s gonna make a big impact, and it\u2019s really gonna determine how the women\u2019s division \u2013 it\u2019s gonna change, it\u2019s gonna look very different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Valentina Shevchenko vs. Weili Zhang<\/p>\n

In addition to the headlining welterweight title bout between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev<\/a>, UFC 322 also features another championship fight in the co-main event where Weili Zhang will attempt to claim a second UFC belt by challenging Valentina Shevchenko.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: UFC legend brutally knocks out reality TV star in boxing debut<\/a><\/p>\n

Lots of gold on the line this weekend \ud83d\udc40 \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n

Jack Della Maddalena vs @MakhachevMMA<\/a> @BulletValentina<\/a> vs @MMAWeili<\/a> <\/p>\n

[ Watch #VeChain<\/a> #UFC322<\/a> ONLY on @ESPN<\/a> PPV | B2YB: @CryptoCom<\/a> ] pic.twitter.com\/QRzFtGhYt0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UFC (@ufc) November 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI know them both personally, they both trained here at my home gym at Fight Ready, and I know them both. And they\u2019re both great athletes. I mean, when I tell you great athletes, they are great athletes. They\u2019re both extremely hard-working women, and it\u2019s gonna be a great fight. And I\u2019m really looking forward and excited to see who comes out as champ…If all goes well in my fight, it\u2019s a big night. It\u2019s an extremely important night.\u201d<\/p>\n

“I’m Ready To Make A Statement”<\/p>\n

While she doesn\u2019t control the title picture, Cortez firmly believes that an impressive win at UFC 322 could set her up for an opportunity<\/a> to challenge for UFC gold against the winner of Shevchenko vs. Zhang.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 100% believe so, but again, there\u2019s girls in the rankings that are also very well-deserving for that opportunity. So, I do believe I will have to make a statement, very much, to be deserving of that opportunity. And you know, coming November 15th, I\u2019m ready to make a statement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Tracy<\/p>\n

Tracy Cortez (blue gloves) reacts to a fight against Vanessa Melo (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ginsasio do Ibirapuera. | Jason Da Silva-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

\u201cI just hope I go in there and I make what I call \u2018mi gente, la raza\u2019 proud. A lot of Latinos are \u2013 a big, if not all of my fan base, is very Latino-based and Mexican-based. And I hope to make my people proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: UFC star Khamzat Chimaev’s MMA lookalike stays undefeated with violent 32-second KO<\/a><\/p>\n

Cortez and Blanchfield will rematch on the prelims of UFC 322 this Saturday (November 15) at Madison Square Garden. You can check out Cortez\u2019s episode of the Threads Oddly Wholesome Post-Fight Rituals<\/a> series below. <\/p>\n

More MMA Knockout News<\/p>\n

\u2022 Gabriel Bonfim vows to “retire” ex-UFC champion after main event win<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2022 Jack Della Maddalena sends chilling warning to Islam Makhachev before UFC 322<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2022 Fighter lands incredible spinning attack to set up brutal KO at UFC Vegas 111<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2022 Ex-UFC star Muhammad Mokaev wins BRAVE CF title, names himself MMA’s best flyweight<\/a><\/p>\n

Stick with MMAKnockout<\/a> for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n

Follow MMAKnockout on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n