Erin Blanchfield by no means desires to lose however she did handle to search out some perspective after her first setback within the UFC when she fell to Manon Fiorot by determination again in March.
Whereas a win would have nearly definitely cemented her because the No. 1 contender within the division, the 25-year-old flyweight prefers that she bought her dangerous evening on the workplace out of the way in which earlier than she grew to become a champion. Nothing is right about shedding however Blanchfield realized quite a bit 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 talking to MMA Preventing. “I used to be serious about 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 joyful I used to be capable of lose then and never lose my title to her. Let’s say I fought for a title and received it after which had misplaced my title to her or anyone 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 quite a bit higher than shedding a title in that method. I’d reasonably study the teachings now so I will be ready once I’m a champ.”
So far as what went mistaken within the Fiorot battle, Blanchfield factors to a few key points that led to her struggles through the five-round battle.
Specifically, Blanchfield was impressed with how successfully Fiorot used her dimension 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 stated. “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 give attention to 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 one of the best nights each single time. I really feel prefer it was a foul evening, some dangerous timing, some dangerous distances. I feel these are the issues that sort of led to the loss.
“I knew she was an excellent fighter. I knew she used her size nicely. She is aware of learn how to battle for her physique sort and her type. She simply utilized it nicely.”
Coming off that loss, Blanchfield strikes proper again into one other enormous 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 anticipated to get a title shot in opposition to new champion Valentina Shevchenko someday in 2025.
Blanchfield expects that Fiorot might probably give Shevchenko the identical sorts of issues she confronted in opposition to a taller, longer fighter at 125 kilos. In fact, Shevchenko is the champion for a purpose however Blanchfield doesn’t depend Fiorot out from getting the job achieved and taking the title.
“I feel Manon will do very nicely,” Blanchfield stated. “I feel she’s going to be quite a bit greater fighter than Valentina. I don’t assume Valentina cuts quite a bit to make [125] and Manon’s an enormous woman. I feel she will undoubtedly use that to her benefit, her peak and her size.
“I do assume 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 dimension and her attain and her size to her benefit over Valentina’s extra dynamic type.”
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 in opposition to Shevchenko and turns into champion, Blanchfield has simply as a lot motivation to earn her method again to a rematch, maybe this time with gold on the road.
“I’ve at all times wished to battle Valentina,” Blanchfield stated. “I’ve been watching her endlessly. 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 desires than touchdown this explicit 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 stated. “So that you at all times wish to get again on the market and get that win underneath your belt. Form 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 degree fights and excessive profile fights like one other 5 spherical battle in opposition to Rose.
“I set myself up in that place due to the performances I’ve had up to now. So I actually wish to proceed that and actually present out on this one.”
