Every fight, Erin Blanchfield said during this week’s UFC Singapore media day, “feels like the most important fight of my life.”
That’s especially true in the case of Talia Santos, who has fought for UFC gold before, she noted. “Especially after my last win against Jessica [Andrade], I feel like that put me into the title picture. So each of these fights puts me that much closer.”
Flyweight Blanchfield (11-1) has won five straight fights in the UFC, the last three of them by submission. That includes forcing ex-champ Andrade to tap to a rear-naked choke this past February. With that head of steam, Banchfield knows a title shot next is possible. She also knows that Manon Fiorot vs. Rose Namajunas takes place early next month, “so I feel like there’s another big fight in the division.”
With that in mind, “I plan on finishing this fight on Saturday and becoming the next title challenger, but whatever happens I’m focused on what’s in front of me, and I know that title’s coming,” Blanchfield added.
As to what she would like to show this Saturday, “I always want to show how well-rounded I am, and that I can win a fight anywhere. So that’s what I plan on doing Saturday, I plan on outdoing her everywhere the fight goes.”
Blanchfield also reflected on Alexa Grasso dethroning Valentina Shevchenko back in March. “Alexa had a great game plan going into that fight. She was losing before then, but she stuck her her game plan, she got to the back and she got Valentina’s neck.” Blanchfield noted the upcoming rematch between the pair, which takes place at Noche UFC next month, on Sept. 16. “We’ll see how that goes. And then having myself and Taila fight, I feel like it just adds so much dimension to the flyweight division.”
Watch the full UFC Singapore media day appearance by Erin Blanchfield above.
