Two days later, Erin Blanchfield is wearing the biggest fight of her career.
Despite the bumps and bruises and ballooning foot, Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) is overall content with her UFC Fight Night 246 unanimous decision victory over Rose Namajunas (13-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) that she thinks moved her one step away from a title shot.
“I was happy I stuck to the game plan me and my coaches had,” Blanchfield told MMA Junkie on Monday. “I was trying to be more patient and find my strikes and find my takedowns. The last round, we just tried to come out harder and really push the pace on her. She was maybe used to that little slower rhythm that I was showing that I haven’t really done before. I was really happy with how I executed that.”
Blanchfield admittedly got off to a slow start, but she’s proud of how she successfully adjusted to win the final three rounds and ultimately the fight.
“I think she was super sharp the first two rounds,” Blanchfield said. “I really needed to find my rhythm. I guess I was struggling to find my rhythm a little bit. I was trying to play a little bit of a different game than maybe what I’m used to. But I didn’t want to run into anything. Like, with my previous fight, I feel like I ran into a lot of strikes, and my takedowns were pretty obvious. I really wanted to change that. I think I was finding my rhythm better in the third round and then was able to get that takedown. It’s kind of a balance of being patient but then knowing when to go. I think I kind of found that in the third round.”
After the fight, Blanchfield had a name ready to call out for her next UFC appearance. She respectfully proposed a fight vs. former champion Alexa Grasso (16-4-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC), who is not currently booked.
Grasso held gold for a significant portion of Blanchfield’s rise up the divisional ladder. Because of that, Blanchfield has kept a close eye on the Mexican fighter. From a stylistic standpoint, Blanchfield selfishly likes what she sees.
“I really like that matchup because she’s another former champ,” Blanchfield said. “I just have two former champs on my record now that I’ve won (against). She doesn’t have a fight lined up right now. I just won my fight. I know beating her puts me right in line for a title shot next. I think there would be no argument that, after whoever the winner of Manon and Valentina is, I should get the next shot at after beating someone like Alexa. That’s ultimately why I called her out.”
“… With Alexa, I obviously feel like my ground game is significantly better, and I feel like I can really find a finish there. It’s another opportunity to test my striking, as well. She’s a great boxer, too, just like Rose is. I feel like it’d be a good challenge everywhere. I feel like I can find my finish.”
While champion Valentina Shevchenko’s next move is not known (though top contender Manon Fiorot is waiting in the wings), Blanchfield firmly hypothesized the Grasso fight will be for a title shot should it take place.
“One thousand percent,” Blanchfield said. “I think the winner of me and Alexa gets the next title shot.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.