Erin Blanchfield is ready for her shot at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gold.
UFC Vegas 69 was capped off with a stunning performance from the 23-year-old New Jersey native as Blanchfield earned her biggest career victory to date. By defeating former Strawweight champion Jessica Andrade via a second-round naked rear choke submission (watch the highlights), Blanchfield jumped straight into the Top 3 of the Flyweight division rankings.
“Cold Blooded” Blanchfield called his shot immediately after the fight, warning current champion Valentina Shevchenko and upcoming challenger Alexa Grasso. Ideally, Blanchfield hopes Shevchenko gets the job done at UFC 285 on March 4, 2023, so she can be the one to dethrone “The Bullet.”
“Valentina, I don’t think it’s a secret, her striking is very good,” Blanchfield said. MMA hour. “Her Muay Thai is very clean. She even has some decent body lock takedowns. But I think on the court, her jiu-jitsu, it’s not bad. It’s just very, very basic.
“I don’t think she has a lot of submissions,” she added. “I don’t think she can come out of certain positions very well, like what we saw against Taila. I kind of think that’s where her game is most basic and could probably be improved. I know that I could fight Valentina anywhere, but against anyone in the flyweight division, I know my jiu-jitsu is better. I can finish anyone.
Blanchfield (11-1) wasted no time in rising to fame in mixed martial arts (MMA) as a bright prospect. At just 19, she became the first woman to win the Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI) and in the same year she received her black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). Blanchfield has built on her solid base in the majority of her 11 career wins, earning submissions in four of them.
“I think that fight put me in line for the next title,” Blanchfield said of his win at Andrade. “Are you here [Santos] was supposed to beat me and she pulled out at the last minute and then Manon [Fiorot] is injured for a while. Valentina and Grasso are literally fighting in about a week and a half. Having me fight for the title next makes sense.
“I definitely do [think I’m ready]”, she concluded. “I have accumulated quite a bit of experience in the UFC. I know where my skills are at and I know that if I have a full training camp and I break down anyone I will fight for this title, I will beat anyone.
For full UFC Vegas 69 results and coverage, click here.
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