Erin Blanchfield isn’t concerned with Jessica Andrade match-up ‘everybody’s tough’

Erin Blanchfield isn’t concerned with Jessica Andrade match-up ‘everybody’s tough.’

Erin Blanchfield was initially supposed to face Taila Santos in the main event of UFC Vegas 69 but just last week Santos was forced to withdraw. Blanchfield will now face the former UFC champion, Jéssica Andrade, arguably the biggest fight of her career.

She’s clearly aware of the fight ahead of her but doesn’t seem to be overthinking it like many fans are.

“My manager called me and told me Talia was out but Andrade was willing to take the fight and I was definitely down right away,” Blanchfield said during the UFC media day on Wednesday. “I already put in all the work and I really want to fight. You know, Taila’s a tough opponent, Andrade’s a tough opponent but everybody’s tough so I didn’t really care. I was just happy to get a fight.”

Erin Blanchfield thinks a title shot next is ‘definitely possible’

Fans and media are calling this match-up a bigger fight for Blanchfield than Santos would have been, but to her, it doesn’t feel much different.

“I know everyone is saying that I guess it’s because Andrade has a lot of experience in the UFC,” she said. “She has a lot more fights than me or Taila. But I think it’s the only reason. I mean, obviously, she’s super tough, she’s different than Taila. But I don’t think it’s necessarily a bigger fight … like skill-wise. I think it makes it bigger for people that know Andrade.”

Fighting a former champion often comes with the hopes of your own title shot with a win. That’s something Blanchfield says she’s ready for if it happens, but she’s not putting too much focus on it yet.

“I know it’s definitely possible,” she said. “But I’m just really trying to keep Jessica on my mind first because I know if I don’t win that then everything else won’t come. But yeah, I mean, having the five rounds is definitely beneficial if that does happen next. But this fight Saturday first.”

Blanchfield is undefeated in the UFC and on a seven-fight win streak overall.