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Erin Blanchfield dominated Jéssica Andrade in the Octagon on Saturday night, establishing herself as the newest contender for Valentina Shevchenko’s flyweight championship.
“This fight was going to be a test for me,” Blanchfield says. “I knew I was at this level, but I’d just never fought anybody at that level. I was excited to test myself.”
Andrade entered the bout on short notice, accepting the fight only a week ago after Taila Santos withdrew after her cornermen were denied visas into the United States. While fighting Andrade–a former strawweight champion who entered this bout ranked third in the flyweight division–was a proving ground for Blanchfield, it turned out to be a fairly one-sided challenge. Just 97 seconds into the second round, Blanchfield ended the bout by submission with a rear-naked choke.
“Once I got that inside trip and she was on the floor, it was my chance,” Blanchfield (11-1) says. “I feel like I have the best grappling in the flyweight division, so once I got her there, there was a high chance for a finish. I stayed in control, looked for my moment, and once I got my arm around her neck, I knew the fight was over.”
Blanchfield applied her grappling 40 seconds into the bout, but Andrade quickly worked her way back to the center. That is when Blanchfield separated herself through her striking, an edge widely assumed to belong to Andrade.
Andrade was not ducking her chin in the opening round, which led to Blanchfield landing some solid shots. She used her reach so well, causing Andrade to reach, leaving her chin exposed. Flourishing in those boxing exchanges unveiled another element to Blanchfield’s repertoire, a frightening thought for a fighter who already appears unstoppable on the ground.
“I know I can strike with anybody,” Blanchfield says. “Obviously, people see grappling as my strong suit, but I know I can strike, too. She had good takedown defense, so my striking needed to be up to par. It was definitely a good test for me.”
As soon as Blanchfield executed the inside trip in the second round, she immediately gained side control. Once Andrade tried to escape, Blanchfield went to work, applying the choke and ending the bout. The victory marks her eighth in a row, and ends a three-fight winning streak for Andrade (24-10).
“I’m really happy that she did take the fight,” Blanchfield says. “I would definitely rather have to change my game plan completely than not fight. She’s a different fighter than Taila, but she only had a week and I knew she had to adjust to me, too.”
Perpetually overlooked and underrated, the 23-year-old Blanchfield has won all five of her UFC fights. Despite her roots—Blanchfield was born in Elmwood Park, New Jersey—she was booed in her fight at Madison Square Garden last November against the popular Molly McCann. Blanchfield responded by making a pretzel out of McCann, finishing her in the first round with a vicious kimura, and she plans on continuing to earn people’s respect by accumulating victories.
“I’ve always wanted to fight at MSG, so it sucked a little getting booed, but that was only my fourth fight in the UFC and a lot of these girls already have followings,” Blanchfield says. “The more I win, the more cheers I’ll get. Every fight is a chance for me to earn my spot and respect with the fans.”
Following the win, Blanchfield announced that she wants a shot at the flyweight title. Current champ Valentina Shevchenko defends the belt on March 4 at UFC 285 against Alexa Grasso.
“Anyone in the top five can get a title shot, but I don’t think any of the other girls are down for it right now,” says Blanchfield, who is expected to jump into the top-three in the new rankings. “I feel like some of them are scared to fight Valentina, but I knew if I won this fight, I could call for it–and there was a high chance I could get it.
“I would love a main event. Hopefully we’ll have a better idea after Valentina fights.”
Bader Will Be Part of 'The Ultimate Fighter'
Ryan Bader will be part of Michael Chandler’s coaching staff on The Ultimate Fighter.
Currently the Bellator heavyweight champion, Bader is a former UFC fighter–and previous winner of TUF, a feat he achieved in 2008. He makes an outstanding representative for the Bellator brand, especially paired with Chandler, who was the centerpiece of the promotion for years before arriving in the UFC, and he will add a lot to the show if he is given the opportunity.
As the head coach opposing Conor McGregor, it is highly probable that Chandler’s background will be discussed at length. Whether that will be the case for Bader is less likely, but having the heavyweight champ of a rival promotion–and detailing his journey–would add another fascinating element to the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Bellator 291 Serves as Return of Amosov
Yaroslav Amosov returns to action this Saturday, defending his welterweight title on Saturday at Bellator 291.
Amosov last competed on June 11, 2021, and a lot has occurred since he defeated Douglas Lima for the title. He joined the Ukrainian military in 2022, helping defend his homeland from Russian attacks in a war that remains ongoing.
Amosov (26-0) now finally makes his first defense of the title against Logan Storley. He will seek to extend his undefeated streak and beat Storley (14-1) for a second time, all while shining a light on Ukraine.
Storley’s only defeat was against Amosov. That was a split decision loss in November of 2020, and he has since won three in a row, becoming the interim welterweight champ in May when he beat Michael Page by split decision.
Amosov enters this bout as the favorite, but it is a particularly difficult fight to gauge given the amount of time he was away from the sport.
