Tracy Cortez vs. Erin Blanchfield prediction, odds, pick for UFC 322

It is time for an additional betting prediction and pick for UFC 322 as we’ll see a competitive ranked bout within the Women’s Flyweight (125) Division. No. 4-ranked Erin Blanchfield will welcome No. 8 Tracy Cortez as each fighters look to earn a future title shot with a win. Check our UFC 322 odds series for the Cortez-Blanchfield prediction and pick.

Tracy Cortez (12-2) has gone 6-1 since joining the UFC roster in 2019. While she hasn’t been particularly energetic over the past six years, Cortez bounced back from a loss to Rose Namajunas together with her latest dominance over Viviane Araujo. Now, she’ll hope to leap the rankings against one other elite opponent. Cortez stands 5-foot-5 with a 65.5-inch reach.

Erin Blanchfield (13-2) has gone 7-1 since entering the UFC in 2021. Notching six consecutive wins (three finishes) upon her arrival to the promotion, Blanchfield suffered her first loss to Manon Fiorot. Bouncing back against Rose Namajunas in unanimous fashion, she’ll hope to exact a title shot with a win here. Blanchfield stands 5-foot-4 with a 66-inch reach.

Listed below are the UFC 322 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings. 

UFC 322 Odds: Tracy Cortez-Erin Blanchfield Odds

Tracy Cortez: +220

Erin Blanchfield: -270

Over 2.5 rounds: -445

Under 2.5 rounds: +210

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Why Tracy Cortez Will Win

• Last Fight: (W) Viviane Araujo – U DEC
• Last 5: 4-1
• Finishes: 1 KO/TKO, 1 SUB

Tracy Cortez turned in an incredible performance against Viviane Araujo, digging deep and turning up the aggression late within the fight. She also managed to land three of 5 takedowns, dominating within the grappling realm and controlling her opponent throughout more often than not on the bottom. With a win here, Cortez might be one fight away from her first title opportunity if she’s capable of pull through because the underdog.

Cortez is incredibly well-rounded in all areas of the fight and really willing to soak up a punch, making her very dangerous when she’s moving forward. Her kicking game extends to all three levels and she or he might be a threat to land if she’s capable of time the takedown attempts from her opponent. Either way, Cortez will wish to avoid clinches against the cage and being placed on her back.

Still, Cortez has only been submitted once in her profession and does a masterful job of using her wrestling to her advantage. Her real advantage will likely be on the feet and mixing up her looks from there, hoping she will be able to catch Blanchfield biting on any of her feints. Threatening the takedown and keeping her opponent guessing will go a good distance for her during this particular matchup.

Why Erin Blanchfield Will Win

• Last Fight: (W) Rose Namajunas – U DEC
• Last 5: 4-1
• Finishes: 2 KO/TKO, 4 SUB

Following her loss to Manon Fiorot, Erin Blanchfield bounced back in a giant way with a dominant win over a former champion in Namajunas. Many though Blanchfield would struggle within the striking against a powerful practitioner like Namajunas, but Blanchfield managed to out-strike her opponent 193-101 while also landing two takedowns. She continues to evolve her game and may come into this bout in her best form yet.

Blanchfield, as is the case with each of her bouts, will likely be an enormous threat to complete the fight on the bottom. She becomes a nightmare if she will be able to manage to search out the mounted crucifix position as we have seen her change the trajectory of fights from there. Blanchfield may also be a threat on the feet together with her improved striking, always keeping the wrestling within the back pocket if she needs it.

Blanchfield’s constant improvement makes her the rightful favorite on this fight and if she will be able to manage the space early on, she should give you the option to land the more damaging shots throughout this fight.

Final Tracy Cortez-Erin Blanchfield Prediction & Pick

This will likely be a far more competitive matchup than people expect and despite the betting lines, Tracy Cortez has all the talents to have a likelihood on this fight because the underdog. It’ll be interesting to see who’s capable of take the driving force’s seat when it comes to the striking, but Cortez actually has the advantage on the subject of distance control and stringing together mixtures.

Blanchfield, while not as fluid together with her striking, has been extremely effective in landing through the exchanges and absorbing damage. She’s not afraid to walk into the road of fireside and her aggressive nature might be an enormous advantage on this fight.

While the betting line must be closer, Erin Blanchfield’s submission grappling will likely be the good equalizer, nevertheless it would not be smart to count Tracy Cortez out of this fight. For our prediction, we’ll roll with Erin Blanchfield to win a much tougher fight than expected.

Final Tracy Cortez-Erin Blanchfield Prediction & Pick: Erin Blanchfield (-270); OVER 2.5 Rounds (-445)