Erin Blanchfield thinks beating Manon Fiorot leaves no doubt that she’s the next title challenger.
Blanchfield (12-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) faces Fiorot (11-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on March 30, which takes place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The card is expected to air on ESPN.
Blanchfield and Fiorot have gone unbeaten in the octagon en route to the top. But with champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko battling to a split draw in their rematch, Blanchfield has no issues taking Fiorot out of the title race while the champion settles her expected trilogy.
“She’s a great fighter,” Blanchfield told MMA Junkie of Fiorot. “I feel like she’s the only other girl that people think deserves a title shot, too. I feel like it’s me and her have been neck-and-neck, winning fights. I think we have about the same amount of wins or something like that.
“I’m really excited to go prove myself as the next title contender. I have no problem going and doing that. I know that it maybe takes a couple of extra fights, but proving that there’s nobody else that deserves that title shot more than me is something I’m excited to do and I’m looking for a finish March 30.”
Fiorot is coming off a decision win over former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in September. Blanchfield doesn’t see any particular threat from Fiorot, and expects the same approach from her when they fight.
“She’s like a lanky kickboxer,” Blanchfield said. “I know she was a professional kickboxer before fighting MMA, but I feel like she’s used that to her advantage pretty much all her fights. I feel like with Rose, she kind of kept her at distance. Rose was having a hard time closing the distance.
“I don’t think there’s anything too crazy dynamic about her game. She’s decently well-rounded, but she’s going to look to use her striking to keep me away. I feel like that’s kind of the majority of her style. She’s a little older. She’s going to rely on what she feels like she’s good at.”
