LAS VEGAS – Erin Blanchfield isn’t as phased by the late-notice change to her first UFC main event opponent.
This past Saturday, the promotion announced Blanchfield (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will take on former UFC women’s strawweight champion Jessica Andrade (24-9 MMA, 15-7 UFC) after original opponent Taila Santos’ team was denied visas. The bout headlines UFC Fight Night 219, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex.
The new matchup had many pundits and fans theorizing if the new matchup was more difficult or if the stakes had heightened. Blanchfield didn’t engage in such conversation, internal or external.
“Everybody’s tough, so I don’t really care. I was just happy to get a fight,” Blanchfield told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “… I know a lot of people have been saying that, I guess because Andrade has a lot of experience in the UFC. She has a lot more fights than me or Taila. I think that’s the only reason why. She’s super tough. She’s different than Taila. But I don’t think it’s necessarily a bigger fight skill-wise. I think it might be bigger for people that know Andrade.”
Easier or tougher fight? Bigger opportunity or smaller opportunity? Those questions are up for debate. What is indisputable, however, said Blanchfield, is the difference in styles Andrade and Santos present.
“I think they’re different body types, a little bit different styles,” Blanchfield said. “It’s just adjusting to that. Andrade has to adjust to me, too. Andrade just fought and she didn’t know she was fighting me until a week ago. We both have to make a little bit of adjustments so I think we’re on an even playing field with that.”
Blanchfield, 23, is one of the most highly-touted prospects in all of MMA. She most recently competed in November when she quickly disposed of surging Molly McCann at UFC 281.
Both the Santos and Andrade matchups represented one thing: she’s now fighting the upper-most echelon of the women’s flyweight division. If she wins, Blanchfield will likely be on the short-list of potential next title challengers for the winner of champion Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso, which takes place March 4 at UFC 285.
Again, Blanchfield is more focused on doing rather than predicting.
“I know (a title shot) is definitely possible, but I’m just trying to keep Jessica on my mind first, because I know if I don’t win that, everything else won’t come,” Blanchfield said. “I’m keeping that first and having the five rounds is definitely beneficial if that does happen next. But this fight Saturday first.
“… I don’t really care either way. I know what winning this fight means. If fighting for a title is next, I’ll do that. If they want me to fight someone else next, I’ll do that, too. I’m just focusing on winning on this fight Saturday and I know whatever comes next will be good.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 219.
