LAS VEGAS – Erin Blanchfield feels ready for a step up in competition.
The 23-year-old flyweight prospect wants a shot at ranked opposition following her latest win inside the octagon. Blanchfield (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) extended her unbeaten run in the UFC, submitting JJ Aldrich at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 207 at the UFC Apex.
Following her win, Blanchfield made her intentions known by calling out the winner of the upcoming UFC 276 bout between Jessica Eye and Maycee Barber.
“I think either of those girls would be a great fight for me,” Blanchfield told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 207 post-fight presser. “If not, I definitely want someone in the rankings. I’m 3-0 now in the UFC and I think I deserve that.”
Blanchfield thinks a step up in competition is due given her body of work. Ideally, she’d like to lock horns with the winner of Barber vs. Eye, but she has no preference on facing either fighter.
Blanchfield expects a competitive bout between the two flyweights at the pay-per-view event.
“I think they’re both pretty even skill-wise,” Blanchfield explained. “I think maybe Barber is a little more aggressive, but so is Eye. I’m not really sure who’s going to win that, but I think it’s going to be a scrappy fight. It’s going to be a war. But I can see either girl winning, I’m not sure.”