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Erin Blanchfield likes the concept of constructing historical past.
The ladies’s Bantamweight division is now with no champion in Final Preventing Championship (UFC) after Amanda Nunes’ latest unanimous resolution title protection towards Irene Aldana at UFC 289. The long-reigning all-time nice and dual-division titleholder, Nunes, announced her retirement instantly after the victory, main to 2 UFC titles changing into vacant.
Initially, UFC 289 was set to see Nunes and the previous champion, Julianna Pena, sq. off in a trilogy affair. Sadly for Pena, she suffered a rib injury that compelled her out of the bout. Pena now’s anticipated to be one-half of the eventual vacant title tilt, and prime girls’s Flyweight contender, Blanchfield, is “super interested” in being her dance associate.
“I really feel like within the Bantamweight division these prime 5 names, prime 10 perhaps are type of like recycled names or individuals which were round for some time,” Blanchfield advised MMA Fighting. “They’re excellent women, however they’ve been the identical. Bantamweight hasn’t had as many prospects come up because the Flyweight division has, and I feel throwing my title in there and having me combat for a 135-pound title is unquestionably going to get a variety of eyes on it.
“Individuals shall be to see that combat, and it could possibly be on a pay-per-view card, major or co-main, it’ll undoubtedly get much more eyes on it than a variety of the women which have already been seen,” she concluded.
Sitting at No. 4 within the promotion’s official 125-pound rankings, Blanchfield makes for a logical subsequent title challenger … after Valentina Shevchenko makes an attempt to safe redemption towards Alexa Grasso. Grasso’s March 2023 upset through fourth spherical face crank (watch highlights) set the pair up for an instantaneous rematch at a date to be decided, leaving the remainder of the division watching and ready.
A combat at Bantamweight could be the primary within the 24-year-old Blanchfield’s 12-fight profession (11-1). A title win at any weight earlier than mid-2024 could be a historic one, breaking the previous Strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas’, youth file of 25.
“I don’t suppose there’s something loopy about her fashion,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I do know Valentina fought her and he or she arm barred her some time in the past. She’s a tricky fighter however I don’t suppose there’s something I might be too nervous about. I really feel like I might go and end that combat.
“If I’ve the Julianna combat, beat her, I’d be the youngest feminine UFC champ I imagine,” she continued. “Then return right down to Flyweight, win that belt, I’d undoubtedly be the youngest double champ. There’s a variety of upsides to it and it’s undoubtedly one thing I might be interested by.”
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