Erin Blanchfield Targets Natalia Silva Fight After Missing Out on Wang Cong Title Shot
Erin Blanchfield believes a strong UFC Edmonton performance could put her in line for a fight against Natalia Silva after missing out on a title shot.
Erin Blanchfield is convinced that a victory at UFC Edmonton could put her in position to challenge Natalia Silva for the women's flyweight title. The race for the No. 1 contender spot has heated up after Silva's championship victory over Wang Cong at UFC 322, and Blanchfield is eager to make her case for the next title opportunity.
Blanchfield is set to take on Jasmine Jasudavicius at UFC Fight Night: Buckley vs. Malott on Saturday night. With a potential title shot on the line, the American fighter knows that delivering a standout performance could really boost her standing in the division.
Erin Blanchfield Wants to Make Her Case for a Title Shot
Blanchfield was one of the fighters who missed out when Wang Cong was picked to compete for the vacant flyweight title. Although she expressed her surprise at the matchmaking choice, she also acknowledged that certain circumstances helped Wang land the fight.
“I was surprised to see Wang be the person that they put in for the title shot, but they had their reasons,” Blanchfield told UFC.com.
The 26-year-old contender also explained why the changing landscape of the division could work in her favor. With former champion Valentina Shevchenko vacating the belt, the race for the next title opportunity has become more open.
“Now with Valentina out and the division being a lot more open to who the next contender could be, I feel like a fight like this could really solidify me,” Blanchfield said, referring to her upcoming matchup.
A Statement Win Could Change Everything
Blanchfield has dedicated years to competing with the best in her division, and she understands that another strong victory could be a game-changer for her championship ambitions. Instead of just calling out her potential rivals, she wants her performance to do all the talking.
“I’m gonna stay focused on what I need to do and let my performance show them,” she said.
A victory over Jasudavicius would give Blanchfield another important result against a ranked opponent and strengthen her argument for a shot against Silva. But first, she has to navigate a tough matchup before turning her attention to the champion.
With the flyweight title picture shifting, Blanchfield has a chance to make herself impossible to overlook. If she delivers the performance she is aiming for in Edmonton, a showdown with Silva could very well become a realistic next step in her quest for UFC gold.
