American mixed martial artist
Erin Blanchfield (born May 4, 1999) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is a former Eddie Bravo Invitational champion. As of August 29, 2023, she is #2 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings, and as of January 23, 2024, she is #4 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.[4]
Background
A native of Elmwood Park, New Jersey,[5] Blanchfield started training jiu-jitsu at the age of seven. Two years later, she started competing in kickboxing and grappling tournaments. By the age of 12, she decided she wanted to be a professional fighter.[2]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Blanchfield fought under Fighting Championships and amassed a record of 1–0 prior to being signed by Invicta Fighting Championships.[6]
Invicta Fighting Championships
Blanchfield made her Invicta debut on March 17, 2018, against Brittney Cloudy at Invicta FC 30. She won the fight by split decision.[7]
Her next fight came on November 16, 2018, facing Kay Hansen at Invicta FC 32.[8] She won the fight via majority decision.[9]
On February 15, 2019, Blanchfield faced Tracy Cortez at Invicta FC 34.[10] She lost the fight via split decision.[11]
Blanchfield faced Gabriella Gulfin on June 4, 2019 at Cage Fury Fighting Championships 76.[12] She won the fight via submission in round one.[13]
On February 7, 2020, Blanchfield returned to Invicta, facing Victoria Leonardo at Invicta FC 39. In the second round Blanchfield dropped Leonardo with a head kick, finishing off the technical knockout victory with punches.[14]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Blanchfield was expected to make her UFC debut as a short notice replacement for Bea Malecki against Norma Dumont on April 10, 2021 at UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland in a Bantamweight bout.[15] In turn, the bout was pulled from the card by after Dumont missed weight by 3.5lbs.[16]
Blanchfield faced Sarah Alpar on September 18, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann.[17] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[18]
Blanchfield was expected to face Maycee Barber, replacing Montana De La Rosa, on December 11, 2021 at UFC 269.[19] However, Barber withdrew in early November due to undisclosed reasons,[20] and she was replaced by Miranda Maverick.[21] Blanchfield won the fight by unanimous decision. She furthermore set the women’s flyweight single-fight takedown record, with eight total takedowns.[22]
Blanchfield faced JJ Aldrich on June 4, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 207.[23] She won the bout via guillotine choke in the second round.[24]
Blanchfield faced Molly McCann on November 12, 2022 at UFC 281.[25] She won the fight via a kimura submission in the first round.[26]
Blanchfield was scheduled to face Taila Santos on February 18, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 219.[27] When the main event fight between Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera was rescheduled for another event, Blanchfield's fight against Santos was moved up to serve as the main event.[28] Santos dropped out of the bout after her cornermen were denied visas into the United States, and was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade.[29] Blanchfield won the fight via submission in round two.[30] This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.[31]
The match with Taila Santos was rebooked and took place on August 26, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225.[32] Blanchfield won the bout via unanimous decision.[33]
Blanchfield is scheduled to face Manon Fiorot on March 30, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 54.[34] The bout was elevated to the main event after Vicente Luque vs Sean Brady didn't materialize.[35]
Personal life
Until 2021, Blanchfield was studying Television and Digital Media with a concentration in sports media at Montclair State University, with an aim to becoming a commentator.[36][2][37] Blanchfield is the daughter of George and Betsy Blanchfield, and has one brother, Brendan, who is also a mixed martial artist.[5]
