UFC fighter Erin Blanchfield has dismissed criticism from flyweight contender Manon Fiorot and asserted her ambition for a title shot, stating that even if she has to fight another match before getting to the title, her victory is inevitable.
Erin Blanchfield isn’t bothered by any criticisms about her performance against Taila Santos at UFC Singapore. This includes comments from the flyweight contender, Manon Fiorot. Fiorot, who herself was only days away from her own match against Rose Namajunas at UFC Paris, was critical of Blanchfield’s win and her subsequent call for a title shot. Fiorot expressed her lack of impression, citing that Blanchfield never really faced a high-level opponent until now and that the fight merely revealed Blanchfield’s actual level. She confidently claimed that provided she performed well in the upcoming fight, she would be the one vying for the belt considering the performance of Santos and Blanchfield.
Blanchfield responded to Fiorot’s criticisms by maintaining her stand and her call for a title shot against the winner of the impending match between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko at Noche UFC on September 16. Blanchfield argued that regardless of Fiorot defeating Namajunas, she still owned a better overall resume in the division. While she acknowledged Fiorot as a solid fighter and a good striker, she questioned Fiorot’s ground game and claimed she had more wins against higher-ranked opponents in the division.
Indeed, Blanchfield and Fiorot do have strangely similar career trajectories. Both are undefeated in the UFC with Blanchfield holding a 6-0 record with three finishes, while Fiorot stands at 5-0 with two knockouts. If their records remain the same post-Saturday, there still remain unresolved questions before anyone can celebrate a shot at the title. Factors such as the outcome of the rematch between Grasso and Shevchenko, or standing injuries, questionable results, or even a significant finish leading to hiatus for the winner of the flyweight title fight could affect their chances.
In case of a significant delay before another flyweight title fight gets discussed, Blanchfield proposed an alternative solution. She suggested that she would love to challenge Fiorot, if she were to win her match, to determine the number one contender. Regardless of whether it’s the winner of Grasso vs. Shevchenko, or possibly whoever’s the victor between Fiorot and Namajunas, Blanchfield knows that she has several opportunities waiting. Regardless of the way forward, her long-term goal remains unchanged—that is, to win the title.