The UFC isn’t waiting to test Erin Blanchfield against the top of the women’s flyweight division.
On Tuesday, Blanchfield announced on “Morning Kombat” that she will meet Taila Santos, the last woman to challenge for the title. The bout will take place Feb. 18 as part of UFC Fight Night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, two people with knowledge of the situation including Blanchfield’s manager Oren Hodak, of KO Reps, confirmed to MMA Junkie.
The UFC has yet to make an official announcement.
Blanchfield (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC), 23, is one of the youngest fighters on the UFC roster but already finds herself in a top-five matchup. Wins over Sarah Alpar, Miranda Maverick, and JJ Aldrich earned Blanchfield a spotlighted matchup at UFC 281 in November against Molly McCann. Despite McCann’s surge in popularity
Santos (19-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), 29, most recently competed at UFC 275 in June when she challenged champion Valentina Shevchenko. Nearly a five-to-one underdog, Santos impressed many fans and experts with her performance in a split decision loss. The decision was debated with some viewers of the mind Santos should have won. During the fight, Santos suffered an eye injury that required surgery.
With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Feb. 18 includes:
- Erin Blanchfield vs. Taila Santos
- Gabriel Benitez vs. Jim Miller
- William Knight vs. Marcin Prachnio
- Billy Goff vs. Themba Gorimbo
- Evan Elder vs. Nazim Sadykhov
- Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Joe Solecki
- Clayton Carpenter vs. Juancamilo Ronderos
- Abus Magomedov vs. Gerald Meerschaert
- Philipe Lins vs. Ovince Saint Preux
