Chael Sonnen hails Erin Blanchfield’s skillset heading into UFC Atlantic City vs Manon Fiorot and likens the 24-year-old to the legendary Vitor Belfort in one key area.
The main event of UFC Atlantic City will be the first time that two fighters will meet in a non-title bout while simultaneously both riding six-fight or longer winning streaks.
Erin Blanchfield vs Manon Fiorot headlines UFC Atlantic City
Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot headline UFC Atlantic City this weekend in what many within the MMA community are promoting as a number-one contender fight for Alexa Grasso’s flyweight championship.
Blanchfield is currently the #2 ranked flyweight in the world and is riding a nine-fight winning streak which includes victories over top-tier talent Talia Santos, Jessica Andrade, Molly McCann, and Miranda Maverick.
Fiorot is sat just one place behind Blanchfield in the rankings at #3 and is on a 13-fight win streak herself which includes victories over Rose Namajunas, Katlyn Cerminara, and Mayra Bueno Silva.
Chael Sonnen likens Blanchfield to the legendary Vitor Belfort
Speaking with Daniel Cormier on the latest episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy, UFC legend Chael Sonnen noted that Erin Blanchfield remains incredibly well-rounded in all facets of mixed martial arts:
“As a coach, I would have a very hard time telling you how to beat Blanchfield, I just don’t see a lot of weaknesses in her game. Blanchfield for me is so incredibly difficult to beat, I even find her strength is her lack of weakness.”
Sonnen then likened Blanchfield’s skills to those of a fellow icon of the sport, Vitor Belfort -harking back to a phrase made famous by UFC commentator Jeff Blatnick for ‘The Phenom’ back in the day:
“When I was an aspiring fighter, of all the things that I heard and saw that made me wish that I could be part of it…Some of the most chilling words that I had ever heard, right before he [Belfort] walked out, Jeff Blatnick used to say ‘No Known Weaknesses’…”
Sonnen explained how “that’s where we’re at with Blanchfield” since despite having 13 fights as a professional mixed martial artist, “We don’t know that it’s better to have her on her feet or to use the hands, or to grind her up.”
“As an overall athlete and somebody who has the respect of her fellow competitors, Blanchfield is a real good place to start looking for a future top contender.”
Daniel Cormier warns opponent has a ‘viciousness about her’
Whilst Blanchfield is the favorite heading into UFC Atlantic City, Daniel Cormier warned that she will face her strongest opponent to date in Manon Fiorot on Saturday evening.
“We have seen her come into the UFC and look unbelievably impressive, she’s a fantastic striker, she’s insanely intense and she has a viciousness about her inside the octagon,” the former double champion said of the surging French contender.
“This weekend she is faced with the toughest challenge that she has ever seen in her career because I do believe that Manon Fiorot has a lot of ability and a lot of talent that could cause her issues.”
Erin Blanchfield vs Manon Fiorot is your main event for this weekend’s UFC Fight Night card, scheduled to go down on March 30 from Atlantic City.