Rivalries: Erin Blanchfield

Erin Blanchfield still appears to be tracking toward a title shot in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight division, even as another potential pitfall looms.

The 26-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt will square off with Maycee Barber in the UFC on ESPN 68 main event on May 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Blanchfield has rattled off 10 wins in her past 11 appearances. She owns a stellar 7-1 record inside the Octagon, her resume highlighted by victories over Taila Santos, J.J. Aldrich, Miranda Maverick and former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Molly McCann.

As Blanchfield moves ever closer to her upcoming clash with Barber at 125 pounds, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape her career to this point:

Tracy Cortez

The Fight Ready MMA export used the Invicta Fighting Championships stage as her springboard, excelled in close-quarters combat and did just enough to curry the requisite favor on the scorecards, as she posted a split decision over Blanchfield in an Invicta 34 showcase on Feb. 15, 2019 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. All three members of the assigned judiciary scored it 29-28: Steven Graham for Blanchfield, Kevin Champion and Greg DiVilbiss for Cortez. It was the first professional loss for Blanchfield, who entered the cage at 3-0. Not all went according to plan for Cortez. She spent several tense moments entangled in a deep armbar in the first round but stayed calm and eventually mapped out an escape. From there, Cortez managed to remain upright, held her own in the standup exchanges and distanced herself from the New York native with a punishing clinch game.

Jessica Andrade

Blanchfield emerged as a legitimate contender in the women’s flyweight division when she dispatched the well-respected Brazilian with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their UFC Fight Night 219 headliner on Feb. 18, 2023 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Andrade bowed out 1:37 into Round 2, suffering her first submission loss in more than seven years. “Bate Estaca” rushed Blanchfield with volleys of power punches, only to be met with stiff resistance and unexpected resolve. Andrade did not have a Plan B. Blanchfield tripped her to the floor in the second round, moved to side control and jumped to the back when the former strawweight champion tried to get back to her feet. From there, she cinched the choke, flattened out Andrade and prompted the tapout.

Manon Fiorot

The Boxing Squad rep cemented herself as the No. 1 contender at 125 pounds when she outpointed Blanchfield to a unanimous decision in the UFC on ESPN 54 main event on March 30, 2024 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Fiorot pitched a shutout on the scorecards, procuring 50-45 nods from all three judges. The Frenchwoman was responsible for the only completed takedown of the match and outlanded Blanchfield by a 172-130 margin in significant strikes across the 25-minute encounter. Fiorot proved to be far more efficient in the standup department and connected with the more impactful blows, often forcing her counterpart to operate outside of her comfort zone. Blanchfield threatened with a guillotine choke in the first round and applied maximum pressure throughout but failed to string together enough meaningful offense to knock “The Beast” off course.

Rose Namajunas

Blanchfield cleared another obstacle standing between her and a potential title shot when she laid claim to a five-round unanimous decision over “Thug Rose” in the UFC Fight Night 246 co-headliner on Nov. 2, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. All three cageside judges scored it 48-47. Namajunas seemed to be pointed in the right direction after two rounds, as she pushed out to a clear lead with a steady jab, effective counters from both hands and stellar footwork. Blanchfield had other ideas. The onetime Eddie Bravo Invitational winner paired a takedown with extended top control in the third round, built some confidence and kept pressing forward. She outpaced Namajunas in the standup department down the stretch, delivered another takedown in the fifth round and salted away the win by moving from side control to a crucifix, all while applying her ground-and-pound.