One of the more qualified critics of the UFC who decided to pit Wang Cong against Natalia Silva for the vacant women’s flyweight title at UFC 332 was Erin Blanchfield, perhaps the only dissenting voice who was literally rocking it. Blanchfield’s credentials for a title shot were far more worthy than Cong’s, however, because he already had a fight on the books against Aenean Jasudavicius — which took place at UFC Edmonton this weekend — it was not considered.
However, the arithmetic was not all complicated, for the twenty keepers.
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Blanchfield is 9-1 in the UFC and is coming off a victory over Tracy Cortez in the UFC. 322. Cong was 5-1 in the UFC since breaking through the “UFC Way.” freedom and victory over Cortez at UFC 329. Cortez is a common source for both, however, Blanchfield had taken former champions in the investigation, names such as Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade, who was the tiebreaker.
You can understand why that bothers the 27-year-old Blanchfield, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the UFC women’s flyweight Meta Rankings.
“I think I definitely gave myself a day or two to be a little excited about it, because I felt that I was really working hard and I was in the top division for a long time,” he told this week.
“But [Cong] when he came in, I feel like he’s all kind of hot inside. She is blessed Valentina [Shevchenko] previously in Muay Thai, where he had feathers in his hat, and it clearly didn’t show enough. He could not win the battle. But everything happens for a reason, and I only have two weeks after this fight, so I’m kind of right in the mix fighting at the same time. I just have to use my fight and make the most of it.”
Erin Blanchfield returns Saturday at UFC Edmonton, nearly a year after defeating Tracy Cortez.
(Jeff Bottari via Getty Images)
Now Blanchfield, who was originally booked against Jasudavicius at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, but had to postpone with an injury, needs to make a dramatic transition to the title shot in Alberta this weekend. Which, of course, means a completely different environment from what was first imagined for the encounter. Since Philadelphia is only 100 miles from Elwood Park, where Blanchfield grew up in New Jersey, the crowd in Philly was on his side.
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In Edmonton? Fighting against Canadian pride? The Maple Leafs will play in numbers at Rogers Place, that is, Blanchfield will throw in what the sports world likes to call “hostile terror.”
It’s just one obstacle for Blanchfield in a world of many.
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“I haven’t had to go to a foreign country to fight before,” he said. “But I was in that place where I was like crazy and the crowd is not sure with me. So I have experienced and I expect to be caught again obviously here. But, I say, I have been here for a week already in training here, so I feel comfortable.”
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Receiving the situation as a stand for Blanchfield camp made this interesting, who in No. 1 contender has experienced fights. Back in March 2024, Blanchfield, only 24 years old, was appointed to make an emphatic speech against Manon Fiorot in Atlantic City, where the crowds are. he did they belong to her. With roots in full throat, Blanchfield climbed the boardwalk well. In fact, he dictated 25 straight minutes, losing all five rounds and by unanimous decision.
Humble experience.
Fiorot got Shevchenko in the next fight, with Blanchfield going back to his old drawing…which, believing that you learn more from your defeats than from your triumphs, was the best that could have been done.
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“I think so,” agreed Blanchfield. “I’ve had two losses in my life and I feel I’ve come out better from each of them. I lost to Tracy.” [Cortez in Invicta FC]and I could clearly go back and beat him. And now, having lost to Fiorot a little over two years ago, I feel that I like it… like, sometimes I could be a little stubborn, so I feel that it helps me to learn. There is no better teacher than failure in this sense. I like that it really helped me to be something that I needed.”
Blanchfield has been called upon a great deal throughout his career. When he came to the UFC only 22 years old to fight with Sarah Alpar in 2021, he shouted “watch out”. During the buzzer’s visit to Molly McCann at Madison Square Garden at UFC 281, she was hailed as a “blue prospect”. And from the time it took Andrade and Taila Santos in the subsequent fights in 2023, read to the full in the “container”.
She rebounds from Fiorot’s loss in Namajunas and Cortez to rebound the rebirth of that state, and wants to add the last key distinction – which is “No. 1 contend “Yes, certainly then for the winner, Silva.
Natalia Silva (L) defeated Wang Cong for the vacant women’s flyweight title at UFC 332.
(Cooper Neill via Getty Images)
“It’s funny because I’ve been in the UFC for five years now, and it’s been a good chunk of time,” says Blanchfield. “I know that some people have obviously been in the UFC forever, but for my age and growing up in it, I like to be given a lot of experience. I feel like someone who is above my years can be wise in that way, especially when it comes to fighting. He only made me better. I basically came up in the UFC, fought two lower-ranked fights, and then three years at the top is already the last one.”
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And through it all, perpetually at the top (or at least close) was Shevchenko, a two-time division champion who is considered by some to have achieved top status in the women’s ranks. To be worked on Forest rather than a linear queen division, something of an extraneous curveball to proceed with, although that’s a better idea to leave for another day.
“It would be a little weird for Valentina to never fight because she dominated the division,” said Blanchfield. “Someone is just that even if he doesn’t chew, he is so basic flying division from the beginning of it. It would be sad that he could not face the appearance, depending on when he returns; if* she herself returned. But it follows, there will be others to fight.
Blanchfield is the favorite to save against Jasudavic on Saturday night, and if he has it when Shevchenko returns from injury, it will be in the “Cold Blood” era. However, if he loses, what all of Canada will be hoping for a chance… Let’s just say it will be a long, long walk to the old drawing board.