Overview
- Blanchfield won by rear-naked choke at 4:44 of Round 2 during the UFC 322 prelims at Madison Square Garden in New York.
- The result avenged Cortez’s 2019 split-decision win in Invicta FC and handed Cortez her first UFC finish loss.
- Cortez found early success in the striking before Blanchfield reversed a takedown, secured her own entries, and locked the choke without full hooks.
- Blanchfield improved to 14-2 overall and 8-1 in the UFC, and she is being discussed as a leading flyweight contender, though no title bout is confirmed.
- With Shevchenko defeating Zhang Weili to retain the flyweight belt that night, potential challengers discussed include Blanchfield and fellow contender Natalia Silva, while Cortez vowed in a post to continue and praised Blanchfield.