Erin Blanchfield didn’t waste any time calling out one of the flyweight division’s top contenders after a come-from-behind win at UFC Edmonton.
Blanchfield edged former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in the UFC Edmonton co-main event. After dropping the first two rounds on all three judges’ scorecards, Blanchfield used her dominant wrestling to stifle Namajunas and sweep the final three.
It was a massive win for Blanchfield after a loss at UFC Atlantic City snapped her unbeaten promotional tenure. She was on a nine-fight winning streak before falling short against Manon Fiorot.
The 25-year-old Blanchfield showed tremendous maturity in her return since her first UFC setback. After outpointing Namajunas by unanimous decision, Blanchfield set herself up for a potential No. 1 contender fight.
Erin Blanchfield called out Alexa Grasso after UFC Edmonton
During her post-fight Octagon interview with Daniel Cormier, Blanchfield called out one of her early role models, Alexa Grasso.
“I would love to fight Alexa Grasso,” Blanchfield said. “I think she’s an amazing fighter, someone I’ve been watching just the way I was watching Rose [Namajunas].
“And I’d love to get a win over her.”
Grasso most recently lost her trilogy with Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 306. Before that, she earned one win and one draw against Shevchenko in their previous two matchups.
Erin Blanchfield bounces back big after first UFC loss
Blanchfield, a Top 5 flyweight contender, is on the verge of a potential title shot following UFC Edmonton. A win over Grasso could cement herself as the next flyweight title challenger.
After regaining the title, Shevchenko is expected to face Fiorot in her first title defense of this second flyweight championship stint. Fiorot served as the backup at UFC 306 and has earned recent wins over Blanchfield, Namajunas, and Mayra Bueno Silva.
Blanchfield put on one of her most impressive performances at UFC Edmonton, despite her inability to finish Namajunas. Regardless, Blanchfield has proved herself as a dangerous puzzle to solve as she nears a title fight.