Flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield suffered her first UFC loss to Manon Fiorot but remains optimistic about her future in the sport.
Erin Blanchfield’s got her eyes on the prize. The next fight, that is.
She got a taste of defeat for the first time in her UFC career this past Saturday. A one-sided decision against Manon Fiorot in the UFC Atlantic City main event, no less. A bit of a reality check for the 24-year-old Blanchfield, who’s been pegged as a future 125-pound champ.
Later that night, she had something to say on Instagram. A short and sweet statement on the loss. “Rough night, I’ll be back better,” she posted.
Before this setback, Blanchfield was living up to the buzz. Six UFC wins under her belt, including a decision over recent title challenger Taila Santos. And let’s not forget the impressive submission win over former strawweight champ Jessica Andrade. But against Fiorot? Not her best night. Couldn’t get any sustained offense going in their 25-minute face-off. Ended up losing with 50-45 scores across the board for Fiorot.
But hey, Fiorot’s still undefeated in the UFC at 7-0. This French standout’s now ready to go for the flyweight title. That is, once Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko finish their championship trilogy later this year. They’re busy with their coaching gigs on The Ultimate Fighter 32 at the moment.
Sure, it’s a bit of a bummer for Blanchfield. But “Cold Blooded” doesn’t hit 25 until May. And she’s got a bright future ahead, no doubt about it.