Erin Blanchfield is not any stranger to accepting short-notice opponents, however she believes the chance is even larger along with her subsequent struggle booked towards Maycee Barber within the UFC Vegas 107 important occasion.
Her causes are primarily targeted round a beforehand scheduled matchup between them being cancelled after Barber dropped out resulting from harm. These considerations have solely been amplified by Barber’s lengthy layoff resulting from a thriller medical difficulty that’s stored her out of motion for the previous 14 months.
Whereas there’s been no indication that Barber has suffered any form of setback, Blanchfield admits she’s staying prepared for any chance with struggle day creeping up this Saturday.
“Yeah, a little bit little bit of fear,” Blanchfield instructed MMA Combating. “As a result of Maycee is somebody that has pulled out of fights fairly often. She has a historical past of that. There’s at all times a fear however that would occur with anybody on the similar time.
“A variety of the opposite high flyweights have been already booked as a result of they have been booked [at UFC 315]. I believe it simply made sense and up to now she’s nonetheless within the struggle so hopefully it stays that manner.”
The character of the game generally forces fighters to remain prepared at a second’s discover and the identical goes for the athletes already deep right into a coaching camp for a five-round important occasion.
Blanchfield hopes nothing adjustments and he or she faces Barber at UFC Vegas 107, however she additionally understands the cruel actuality that she might find yourself with a distinct opponent as a result of that’s occurred to her earlier than. It’s by no means very best, however Blanchfield guarantees she’s staying prepared for whoever finally ends up standing throughout the octagon from her.
“I’m simply staying prepared,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I’m making an attempt to enhance myself essentially the most. There’s at all times little belongings you attempt to tweak in your opponents however I actually attempt to focus alone software set and what I need to develop in. Regardless if the opponent adjustments, I’m able to go.”
Whereas there’s danger concerned with Barber as an opponent, Blanchfield noticed this struggle coming when the promotion began matching up flyweights after champion Valentina Shevchenko bought booked towards Manon Fiorot at UFC 315.
“I wasn’t too shocked,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I knew after my final struggle I might have been preventing Alexa [Grasso] or [Natalia] Silva or Maycee, all of these names have been nonetheless open. Like nobody had fights booked but. So once I bought the provide to struggle Maycee in a important occasion, it made sense.
“I’m excited for this one. We have been matched up years in the past to struggle and we’ve had our phrases forwards and backwards. So it’s enjoyable that we’re lastly attending to struggle in a important occasion, too.”
Assuming nothing adjustments and Barber stays within the struggle as scheduled, Blanchfield is greater than ready as a result of she’s now ready for this similar matchup a number of occasions.
Barber returns to the cage for the primary time in over a 12 months so there’s a chance she may need ring rust to knock off. Blanchfield isn’t relying on that enjoying an element within the struggle, though she is aware of it’s an actual chance.
“Taking a 12 months off isn’t very best,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I do know she had points so that you do need to heal, you don’t need to rush into these sorts of issues. However the prime of your profession, that is the time to get expertise and hold preventing as a lot as you may.
“I believe consistency of preventing, it’s at all times helped me staying constant and preventing on a regular basis simply helps you develop.”
Blanchfield’s struggle towards Barber takes place just some weeks after Shevchenko defeated Fiorot and Natalia Silva vanquished former champion Alexa Grasso, which introduced readability to the present title image at 125 kilos.
Nothing is ready in stone concerning Shevchenko’s subsequent protection, however Blanchfield is aware of a powerful exhibiting towards Barber places her in an ideal place to name for a title shot.
“I don’t suppose it’s clear reduce,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I believe how the struggle with me and Maycee goes, like if I am going in there and I end her and I’ve a extremely good efficiency, I believe that places me forward.
“Within the division the place there isn’t a transparent contender, I believe it issues the way you win the struggle. So I’m making ready to win my struggle as thrilling as potential.”
