By virtue of holding a win over both, Manon Fiorot was almost certainly next in line for a flyweight title shot, ahead of UFC Edmonton co-headliners Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield.
“Thug” Rose and Blanchfield, however, were looking to secure the next shot for themselves, in a five-round co-main event at the Rogers Place on Saturday.
The fight began with Rose taking the center of the octagon, Blanchfield circling back and forth on the outside. Namajunas fired her jab out early and often, darting in and out of range. Blanchfield thru a few kicks with only one clipping the target. Rose evaded the leg kick and returned one of her own. Namajunas’s hand speed advantage was apparent early. Her footwork was quick, and she was light on her feet. Rose also did a good job of using head movement and cutting angles to tag her opponent and slide out of range. Erin pawed at her nose, tenderized already from jabs as the clock signaled a minute left in the round. Blanchfield again whiffed on the high kick and ate a leg kick. Blanchfield looked to mix it up with some elbows that came up short as the two exchanged in the center at the end of the round.
To open the second, Namajunas landed a leg kick and rolled under the return fire of three punches. Erin kept moving and circling on the outside looking for an entry point. Whenever Namajunas planted her feet, she was clubbing Erin with the right hand. About 90 seconds into the round and Blanchfield crashed into Rose and corralled her against the cage looking to force a takedown. Rose got over hooks and threw Blanchfield flat on her back as the arena erupted. Blanchfield found her feet again and tried to find Rose with a strike, to no success. Namajunas continued to move in and out, her footwork looking nearly flawless. Blanchfield landed a body kick of her own and an elbow, but it didn’t seem to have much effect. With less than a minute to go in the round, Rose shucked another takedown. Seconds later in the follow up attempt, Erin elevated a leg but still wasn’t able to get the fight to the ground. She dropped her head on the way to the stool, looking a little dejected.
Blanchfield finally landed a leg kick to open the third. Rose whipped out a jab and a few seconds later, a jab to the body and a right hand over the top. A minute into the round and Blanchfield began to become more aggressive. Namajunas sensed this and looked to slow the pace and unsuccessfully panic shot for a takedown. Blanchfield responded with one of her own that pushed Rose against the cage. Erin really showed off her physicality against the former strawweight champ. With an underhook and a leg elevated of Rose’s, Blanchfield finally dumped Rose onto the canvas. With about half the round left, Blanchfield began hand fighting with Rose, who was trying to hold the position to neutralize her. Blanchfield had her left leg trapped in half guard and with less than a minute left seemed content there. Rose regained half guard with a few seconds left in the round and was able to successfully keep her opponent from really landing anything damaging from an advantageous position.
To open the fourth round, Blanchfield was brimming with confidence and throwing lots of offense. Rose kept slipping punches but with the increased offense and pressure of Blanchfield a few were connecting. Blanchfield struck into a clinch and got a body lock against the cage midway thru the round. Namajunas, back to the cage, pummeled and looked for the underhook. The ref clapped his hands demanding the two fighters work out of the position and press the action. Seconds later, back in space, Namajunas looked to have a little more trouble darting fully in and out of range her footwork looking labored. Blanchfield got in deep on a takedown but didn’t secure a finish. With seconds left in the round Blanchfield looked to be the clear aggressor. Rose looked a weary and flustered.
In between rounds Rose’s corner was incredibly high energy. The message was urgent, and it was clear they were trying to rally Rose, sensing Blanchfield heating up.
To open the fifth round, Blanchfield stepped on the gas, throwing a flurry, out of the gate. Panic stricken, Rose shot for a takedown that Blanchfield fended off. Rose tried to fend off the attack for a little longer electing to stand and strike. Erin expertly changed levels and took the fight to the ground. Catching Rose off guard and fatigued. Now flat on her back Rose had her mouth open breathing heavily. Blanchfield slowly creeped up to the mounted crucifix on her opponent. Midway thru the round and she started to isolate the left arm of Rose but lost control of the other arm. Rose valiantly fought off of her back, getting to a hip and then to her base, on all fours. Blanchfield, now on the back of Rose used the body lock to lift and force Rose up against the cage. From there, Blanchfield tried to put an exclamation mark on the round with a gritty last second takedown. Rose successfully shut it down, showing her heart till the last second of the fight.
In the post-fight interview Erin was overcome with emotion after her come from behind win. “It was a tough fight you know; I thought I won the last three, but you never know, it was just so close and so tough.” she reflected on the fight.
Erin also acknowledged that round three was the clear turning point of the fight thanks to her turning up the pressure and output. And when Erin was asked who she would like to fight next after beating a former champion like Rose in a five round fight she replied with a grin, “I would love to fight Alexa Grasso, I think that she’s an amazing fighter.” Grasso is the #3 ranked UFC flyweight and was last in action at UFC 306 a couple months ago when she lost her belt to Valentina Shevchenko.
Official Result: Erin Blanchfield def. Rose Namajunas by Unanimous Decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
