Las Vegas, NV — Erin Blanchfield was a spectator at UFC 285 over the weekend, and got to take in a massive upset as Alexa Grasso submitted long-reigning women’s flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko.
Even Blanchfield (11-1), a top contender in the division, was betting against Grasso. “I think Alexa is a great fighter in her own right, but I just don’t see where she wins this fight really anywhere,” Blanchfield told media outlets including Cageside Press earlier in the night. “Anything can happen, it’s a fight, so we’ll see what happens.”
Turns out, anything can and did happen. After a strong first round by challenger Grasso, Shevchenko took over with her wrestling. She was up on the scorecards going into round four when Grasso took the champ’s back, got under the chin, and forced Shevchenko to tap.
Now Blanchfield may end up taking another fight in between, rather than waiting for a title shot. “If Alexa wins, I definitely think they do a rematch. I think I would want to fight in between, I wouldn’t want to wait that long. Just to get more experience under my belt and to be in competition still so when I do fight for a title, I’m used to it.”
As for Valentina Shevchenko being dismissive of Blanchfield getting a title shot following the prospect’s win over Jessica Andrade, the New Jersey native brushed it off.
“Honestly I don’t really care. If you look at the division, I don’t think anything else really makes sense besides me fighting next.”
Well, after a rematch anyway.
Watch the full media appearance by Erin Blanchfield at UFC 285 above.
