LAS VEGAS – – Erin Blanchfield may very well be one of the most outstanding youthful title prospects the UFC has found in years.
Blanchfield, 23, got the greatest success of her vocation on Saturday, submitting previous strawweight champion Jessica Andrade through back bare gag at the 1-minute, 37-second characteristic of the subsequent round. The strawweight battle featured UFC Battle Night from the UFC’s Summit office.
A previous champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Blanchfield (11-1) has been endorsed to the UFC just starting around 2021 and has been battling MMA expertly beginning around 2018. A triumph over any semblance of Andrade (24-10) demonstrated her authenticity at 125 pounds.
“Provide me with the champ of [champion] Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso next,” Blanchfield expressed, alluding to the planned Walk 4 title session. “I will come out on top for the championship.”
Yet again battling out of New York, Blanchfield’s strength on the ground has been something to view up to this point in her UFC vocation, and that was the case Saturday. She utilized an inside outing to get Andrade to the floor toward the beginning of the subsequent round and got the back bare gag just minutes after the fact.
Maybe more amazing, be that as it may, was her capacity to hang with Andrade on the feet. Blanchfield neglected to keep a takedown in the initial round, yet she figured out how to associate Andrade with different power right hands. Andrade is a notable knockout craftsman, viewed as maybe the hardest hitter at 125 pounds.
Saturday denoted Blanchfield’s most memorable appearance in a UFC headliner. She was initially planned to battle previous title challenger Taila Santos in a three-round battle however was moved to the headliner when the UFC rebuilt its timetable. Santos pulled out last week, and Andrade consented to update without prior warning.
Notwithstanding battling without prior warning, was as yet a wagering most loved going in. She had won three straight going into this headliner and was positioned No. 6 and negative. 3 in the UFC’s strawweight and flyweight rankings, separately.
