20-year-old Erin Blanchfield believes a UFC championship will be in her future.
In 2019, the top all-women’s Mixed Martial Arts organization, Invicta Fighting Championship did not have a single knockout (not TKO) during the calendar year. That streak wouldn’t continue long throughout 2020. This past Friday, Erin Blanchfield was able to separate her opponent, Victoria Leonardo from consciousness in the second round of their contest at Invicta 39. The just 20-year-old fighter landed a perfectly placed left head kick that put Leonardo out cold.
“This was definitely the most impressive victory of my career,” Blanchfield told Cageside Press. “I definitely showed a lot of improvement in that fight.”
It likely wasn’t a surprise to many that “Cold Blooded” was able to get her hand raised last Friday but not many prognosticators were predicting that she would put on a striking clinic. The New York native is known for being a Brazilian jiu-jitsu protege — having won a world championship in grappling back in 2017 when she took home gold at the Eddie Bravo Invitational. However, she is quick to point out that she has been training in Muay Thai since she was in elementary school.
“I think it is super exciting because nobody knew I could knock anybody out that way either. I have never done that. It was super exciting.”
The highlight-reel knockout gained much circulation on the internet helping the top prospect gain some newfound notoriety. With her boost in popularity, fans are eager to see Blanchfield in action again. While she won’t commit to an opponent besides saying she wants to face somebody at the higher end of her division, she did give a bit of a timeline for a return.
“As soon as possible,” Blanchfield said. “We are working on it right now. I have no injuries or anything, so hopefully soon.”
With the victory, Cold Blooded improved her record to 5-1 in her brief two-year professional career. Her lone loss came at the hands of current UFC standout, Tracy Cortez in a fight where many believe Blanchfield should have been awarded the decision win. Fans and media members (myself included) have called the fight a robbery.
“It was a split decision,” Blanchfield said. “I left it in the hands of the judges. It is hard for me to get really annoyed about it. If I want to make sure I won, I had to finish her. If we get matched up again, I know I can definitely do that. Maybe I will be able to avenge that loss in the future. That is all I can hope for.”
Blanchfield doesn’t appear to be focusing on revenge against Cortez but on finding way to improve her own skills so her call-up to the premier MMA organization will come.
“All I can keep doing is winning fights in impressive fashion,” Blanchfield stated. “I will get that call eventually. I know I will be in the UFC someday and I will be a UFC champ one day. All I have to do is keeping working to get better. It is all I can do. I am just going to have to wait for them to give me that call.”
The 20-year-old knows that a call from the UFC matchmakers can come anytime. She pointed out that several fighters make their debuts as injury replacements at the last moment — which usually happens if an event is scheduled close to the combatant’s home town. She is staying ready if the same happens to her.
“I do watch if the UFC is in the area or anywhere close in [New] Jersey or New York and I see that there are flyweight fights in there. I will try to stay a little closer [to the flyweight limit] just in case, you never know. You want to be ready in case you get that call. I definitely try to stay ready.”
