Erin Blanchfield by no means needs to lose however she did handle to seek out some perspective after her first setback within the UFC when she fell to Manon Fiorot by resolution again in March.
Whereas a win would have nearly actually cemented her because the No. 1 contender within the division, the 25-year-old flyweight prefers that she acquired her dangerous night time on the workplace out of the way in which earlier than she grew to become a champion. Nothing is right about shedding however Blanchfield discovered lots from that have and now believes she’s a greater fighter due to it.
“It’s one thing I really talked to my dad about,” Blanchfield defined when chatting with MMA Combating. “I used to be occupied with that after that battle. It sucks to lose however you may at all times get higher and there’s perspective on it. Like I’m so glad I used to be in a position to lose then and never lose my title to her. Let’s say I fought for a title and gained it after which had misplaced my title to her or any person else, that might have sucked extra.
“Taking that lesson now whereas I’m nonetheless on the journey to get to the title, I feel it’s going to be lots higher than shedding a title in that means. I’d slightly study the teachings now so I will be ready once I’m a champ.”
So far as what went incorrect within the Fiorot battle, Blanchfield factors to a few key points that led to her struggles through the five-round battle.
Particularly, Blanchfield was impressed with how successfully Fiorot used her measurement and attain benefit, which then led to issues together with her grappling after going 0-for-3 on takedowns.
“I feel my distance undoubtedly wasn’t gauged nice,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I really feel like she did a very good job sticking to her plan. She was very disciplined with it and I really feel like possibly I didn’t have all of the solutions at the moment. These are issues I’ve actually tried to concentrate on and repair main as much as this battle. I really feel prefer it was a very good expertise for me and also you’re by no means going to have the most effective nights each single time. I really feel prefer it was a nasty night time, some dangerous timing, some dangerous distances. I feel these are the issues that sort of led to the loss.
“I knew she was a very good fighter. I knew she used her size effectively. She is aware of battle for her physique kind and her model. She simply utilized it effectively.”
Coming off that loss, Blanchfield strikes proper again into one other big matchup when she faces Rose Namajunas in a five-round co-main occasion on the UFC Edmonton card on Saturday. In the meantime, Fiorot is predicted to get a title shot towards new champion Valentina Shevchenko someday in 2025.
Blanchfield expects that Fiorot might probably give Shevchenko the identical sorts of issues she confronted towards a taller, longer fighter at 125 kilos. In fact, Shevchenko is the champion for a motive however Blanchfield doesn’t rely Fiorot out from getting the job achieved and taking the title.
“I feel Manon will do very effectively,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I feel she’s going to be lots larger fighter than Valentina. I don’t suppose Valentina cuts lots to make [125] and Manon’s an enormous woman. I feel she will undoubtedly use that to her benefit, her top and her size.
“I do suppose Valentina is the extra dynamic fighter. She has extra instruments than Manon. So I feel it’s nearly who can make the most of what higher. Can Manon use her measurement and her attain and her size to her benefit over Valentina’s extra dynamic model.”
Since first arriving within the UFC, Blanchfield at all times dreamed about dealing with Shevchenko as one of many fighters she most admired developing as a prospect within the sport. With hopes of getting again into title competition with a win over Namajunas on Saturday, the New Jersey native is aware of that battle might undoubtedly nonetheless occur.
On the flipside if Fiorot will get the job achieved towards Shevchenko and turns into champion, Blanchfield has simply as a lot motivation to earn her means again to a rematch, maybe this time with gold on the road.
“I’ve at all times wished to battle Valentina,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I’ve been watching her eternally. She nonetheless has that aura being an amazing champ even with the entire Alexa [Grasso] trilogy. So I’d like to battle her after which clearly I’d like to battle Manon to get that win again.”
Earlier than any of that may occur, Blanchfield has to get by Namajunas however she couldn’t have envisioned a greater state of affairs to get again to the place she needs than touchdown this specific matchup.
Namajunas is a former UFC champion at present using a two-fight win streak at flyweight and Blanchfield acknowledges {that a} win ought to put her proper again in title competition once more.
“It sucked shedding my final battle and that at all times sort of hurts,” Blanchfield mentioned. “So that you at all times need to get again on the market and get that win below your belt. Type of get your self feeling the way in which you’re used to. I’m actually grateful I’m nonetheless in place to have these very excessive stage fights and excessive profile fights like one other 5 spherical battle towards Rose.
“I set myself up in that place due to the performances I’ve had prior to now. So I actually need to proceed that and actually present out on this one.”
