Erin Blanchfield now considers herself the de facto No. 1 contender in the women’s flyweight division, and she’s anxiously awaiting the next title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso at UFC 285.
After a dominating win over Jessica Andrade in UFC Vegas 69, Blanchfield soared up MMA Fighting’s flyweight rankings with only one person ahead. While Shevchenko still has to handle business with Grasso on March 4, Blanchfield will be waiting in the wings to challenge the winner.
” I think that this fight put me in line for my next title shot,” Blanchfield stated on The MMA Hour. “Taila [Santos] was supposed to fight me and she pulled out at the last minute and then Manon [Fiorot] is hurt for a while. Valentina and Grasso will be fighting within a week. It makes perfect sense to have me fight for this title.
“I definitely do [think I’m ready],” she added. “I’ve built up a little bit of experience in the UFC. “I know my skills and if I can have a training camp that breaks down the person I will be fighting for, then I will beat anyone .”
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Blanchfield has repeatedly said she wants to be the person to dethrone Shevchenko, who is currently the longest-reigning champion on the entire UFC roster, preparing to defend her title for the eighth consecutive time.
Some have suggested that Shevchenko is starting to lose a step, especially after going to a split decision with Taila Santos in her previous outing, but Blanchfield doesn’t believe that’s actually the case.
“I think people are definitely making a little bit much of it,” Blanchfield said. “I don’t know if she’s on the decline. It was Taila’s good fighting style that Valentina had against her. Her grappling skills are unmatched and she is a big, strong girl. I think she was bigger than Valentina in there, so it was easier for her to impose her will on her a little bit.
” I don’t think that she is in decline. I just think it’s showing a little bit of the holes she does have. Taila just did good job of using that to her advantage. You won’t see a fight like this with Grasso, because Grasso doesn’t have the style and size to match Valentina. You’ll probably see something similar to her older fights.”
Perhaps the most interesting part about her analysis is Shevchenko’s perceived weakness on the ground might play directly into what Blanchfield does best.
The 23-year-old fighter from New Jersey has displayed an incredibly dominant grappling game with three submission wins in the UFC, including finishes over Andrade and Molly McCann in her past two appearances.
“Valentina. I think it’s no secret that her striking skills are very impressive,” Blanchfield said. Her Muay Thai skills are very sharp. She even has some decent body lock takedowns. However, I believe her jiu jitsu is quite good on the floor. The training is very simple.
” I don’t believe she has many submissions. She doesn’t seem to be able to get out of some positions well as we saw with Taila. I kind of think that’s where her game is the most basic and probably could use some improvement.”
Although Shevchenko has had a few submission victories and places on the ground in her UFC career. Blanchfield likes those chances.
Of course, Blanchfield won’t shy away from engaging with Shevchenko anywhere the fight might take them, but she’s well aware of her greatest advantage in that potential fight.
“I know I could fight with Valentina anywhere, but against anybody in the flyweight division, I know that my jiu-jitsu is better,” Blanchfield said. “I can finish anybody.”
As it stands, Blanchfield doesn’t know if she’ll be cageside for UFC 285 in Las Vegas, although she likes the idea of sitting right there to watch Shevchenko and Grasso go to war.
Obviously, Blanchfield already believes she’s next in line if Shevchenko wins, and ideally that would allow her the opportunity to become one of the youngest champions in UFC history.
” I plan to it,” Blanchfield stated. “If I get that title shot next, yes definitely [I will be champion].”
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/2/22/23611097/erin-blanchfield-criticizes-valentina-shevchenkos-grappling-as-very-very-basic-could-use-improvement?rand=96749
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