Erin Blanchfield vs Manon Fiorot to headline UFC Fight Night 239 on March 30
Top ranked UFC flyweight contenders Erin Blanchfield (12-1) and Manon Fiorot (11-1) are set to headline UFC Fight Night 239.
UFC Fight Night 239 is to go down on March 30, 2024, live from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Many of us fans had been wondering what’s next for each of these women, given they’re both essentially the no. 1 contenders of the division. But, despite the fact they both deserve title shots, we’ll see them face off in a five-round affair to see who gets the next crack at UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso.
No. 2 ranked Erin Blanchfield has been nothing short of breathtaking in her performances thus far into her MMA and UFC career. For starters, she won the Eddie Bravo Invitational grappling tournament at just 18-years-old, which is a serious feat for anyone at any age.
Now, at just 24 years of age she’s found herself atop of her division, one fight away from a world title shot.
Blanchfield won her first three professional bouts en route to a split decision defeat to current no. 11 ranked Tracey Cortez, someone who’s 5-0 in the UFC and 11-1 as a professional herself.
Following that razor-thin defeat at Invicta 34 Blanchfield has since gone 9-0, winning her next three fights en route to signing with the UFC where she’s defeated Sarah Alpar (UD), Miranda Maverick (UD), JJ Aldrich (guillotine choke), Molly McCann (kimura), former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade (rear naked choke), and former title challenger Taila Santos (UD), who many believed won her title fight with Valentina Shevchenko.
After losing the first round to Santos, something Blanchfield isn’t exactly used to, she regained her composure in rounds two and three to pick up the handed decision win. As young as she is, it’s great to see not only is she a great hammer but can also be the nail and rebound in order to pick up a serious victory.
This will however potentially be the first time she’s ever gone five rounds, as her main event against Jessica Andrade earlier this year in February was stopped in round two.
No. 3 ranked Manon Fiorot on the other hand, while Blanchfield is a BJJ black belt, boasts a BJJ brown belt, as well as a black belt in karate. She also went 12-0 in amateur Muay Thai, claiming two national championships, as well as three K-1 championships in the process.
Following a split decision defeat in her professional debut, Fiorot has since won 11-straight, capturing the EFC flyweight championship via five-round unanimous decision in her third professional fight.
She’d go on to the UAE flyweight title 11 months later in her sixth fight prior to joining the UFC with a record of 5-1. Since then, Fiorot has defeated the likes of Victoria Leonardo (TKO), Tabatha Ricci (TKO), Mayra Bueno Silva (UD), who’s fighting for the bantamweight title in her next fight, former title challengers Jennifer Maia (UD) and Katlyn Chookagian (UD), and former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (UD) in her latest appearance.
As you see, each of these women have a win over former 115 lb UFC champions, and each have wins over two former flyweight title challengers; neither have yet lost inside the octagon, and each have only ever lost once in their 12-fight and 13-fight respective careers, each via split decision.
This is going to be a good one you do not want to miss!
Who walks away from UFC Fight Night 239’s main event the no. 1 contender for Alexa Grasso’s championship?
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