Top prospect Erin Blanchfield will not make her octagon debut this weekend at UFC Vegas 23.
After stepping up on short notice to face former featherweight Norma Dumont, Blanchfield is now without a fight, after Dumont failed to make the 135lb limit for the second straight occasion. At Friday morning’s UFC Vegas 23 weigh-in, the Brazilian hit the scale rather late in the weigh-in window, clocking in at 139.5lbs, a full 3.5lbs over the bantamweight limit.
She did not continue to cut weight, and the fight was ultimately pulled from the card by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
According to a report by MMA Junkie citing Blanchfield’s manager, she had agreed to a catchweight bout.
Dumont (5-1) last competed at UFC Vegas 15 in November 2020. Although she defeated Ashlee Evans-Smith in the bout, she missed weight for that outing as well, at an identical 139.5lbs. Her initial fight in the UFC, in 2019, came against Megan Anderson, at featherweight. It’s starting to look like featherweight is where she would be better suited, but the UFC has allowed its featherweight division to dwindle down to Amanda Nunes, and whoever they find to face her.
Blanchfield (6-1) has not fought since July 2020, when she earned a unanimous decision win over Brogan Walker-Sanchez. Traditionally a flyweight, Blanchfield holds wins over current UFC fighters Kay Hansen and Victoria Leonardo. She was moving up a weight class to face Dumont.
With the loss of Erin Blanchfield vs. Norma Dumont, UFC Vegas 23 (UFC on ABC 2) continues with the following bouts:
Marvin Vettori vs. Kevin Holland
Arnold Allen vs. Sodiq Yusuff
Sam Alvey vs. Julian Marquez
Nina Ansaroff vs. Mackenzie Dern
Mike Perry vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Jim Miller vs. Joe Solecki
Scott Holtzman vs. Mateusz Gamrot
John Makdessi vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Yorgan De Castro vs. Jarjis Danho
Hunter Azure vs. Jack Shore
Luis Saldana vs. Jordan Griffin
Da Un Jung vs. William Knight
Impa Kasanganay vs. Sasha Palatnikov
