UFC women’s flyweight Erin Blanchfield has a perfect 5-0 record in the promotion so far, but she wants to take on a bigger challenge. Literally: Blanchfield wants to move up to challenge for the now-vacant bantamweight title, and has former champ Julianna Peña firmly in her sights.
“I think that is something that’s super interesting. Julianna Peña is, I believe, the No. 1 contender right now, she’s the former champ. I think someone coming up from the flyweight division to fight her, I think would be super interesting.
How Erin Blanchfield Plans to STORM UFC Bantamweight Division
I think a lot of people are curious when I’m going to be fighting next. I don’t have anything lined up right now. I know she wants to fight and get her title back, but I feel like I’m one of the most interesting fights right now for that division and for that title. I think it would get a lot of eyes on it, and that’s something I’d definitely be interested in.”
Blanchfield, a relative newcomer with only 12 pro fights, 5 of which were in the UFC, echoes a popular fan sentiment regarding the women’s bantamweight division. Its upper echelon is populated by legends of the game who have dominated the rankings for years now. It’s time for fresh blood.
“I feel like in the bantamweight division those top five names, top 10 maybe are kind of like recycled names or people that have been around for a while.
They’re very good girls, but they’ve been the same. Bantamweight hasn’t had as many prospects come up as the flyweight division has, and I think throwing my name in there and having me fight for a 135-pound title is definitely going to get a lot of eyes on it.
People will be interested to see that fight, and it could be on a pay-per-view card, main or co-main, it will definitely get a lot more eyes on it than a lot of the girls that have already been seen.”
Blanchfield also has a “backhanded compliment” for her dream opponent. “I haven’t really studied her a ton yet but I feel like her best attribute is honestly she’s a very tough girl.
She goes to fight. I know her first fight against Amanda she beat her but the second fight, she fought super hard even though she was kind of getting outclassed everywhere. She’s decent, she’s well-rounded.
It is kind of a backhanded compliment. You don’t necessarily want to be known as being one of the toughest people. It’s definitely something nice to have in your back pocket if you need it but you don’t want to have to rely on it or be known for it.”
