Erin Blanchfield lands 111 strikes before submitting Molly McCann in first round

Erin Blanchfield explains why she’s the one to dethrone Valentina Shevchenko

Rising star Erin Blanchfield explained why she’s the one to dethrone UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.

Blanchfield, who is just 23 years old, picked up the biggest win of her MMA career so far when she submitted Jessica Andrade in the main event of UFC Vegas 69. It was an unbelievable victory for Blanchfield, who proved that she is among the elite of the UFC women’s flyweight division. At this point, she is one of the top-five fighters in the weight class, and she’s not far away from getting a title shot next.

The longtime champ Shevchenko returns to the Octagon next month when she fights Alexa Grasso in the co-main event of UFC 285. It’s a fight that the oddsmakers see Shevchenko as winning, as she is a big betting favorite to once again defend her belt. And if Shevchenko is able to get past Grasso as most expect her to do so, then a title fight against the emerging contender Blanchfield next could very well be next.

Speaking to MMAjunkie.com in a recent interview, Blanchfield explains why she believes she is the next to beat Shevchenko. She says she’s been breaking her down for years and believes she’s the one to beat her.

“I think I’ll use my style (against Shevchenko) that I’ve been beating everybody with. Everyone kind of underestimates me a little bit just because of my age and because I don’t have that many fights in the UFC. I know I can win these fights. I feel like I’ve been breaking her down for years. I’ve been watching her since I was in high school. I know once I get in there that we’ll have a good game plan and that belt is going to be mine,” Blanchfield said.

Do you believe that Erin Blanchfield will defeat Valentina Shevchenko if they end up fighting?

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Adam Martin
MMA journalist, podcast host, and handicapper for MyMMANews.com, MMAoddsbreaker.com, and Bookies.com. MMAOB Daily Podcast host. Join me LIVE @ 5 pm EST every Monday for my live free podcast. Over 10 years of experience writing about MMA. I love this sport.