Co-Main Event Spotlight | Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas

The 25-year-old Blanchfield made an astonishing rise in the flyweight division. The Jiu-Jitsu black belt champion and Eddie Bravo Invitational champion made her debut as a 22-year-old in September 2021 and recorded three victories, including a submission, in nine months, laying the foundation for a performance that many consider one to be Breakthrough hold at UFC 281.

Fighting near her New Jersey home at New York's Madison Square Garden, she faced Molly McCann, who suffered back-to-back highlight reel knockouts in March and July. Although a large portion of the crowd supported the Liverpool native, Blanchfield lived up to her “Cold Blooded” nickname by easily defeating McCann and soon after defeating her with a kimura from the crucifix position. She stood up, dusted herself off and, despite her youth, rightly called herself a real force in the top 10.

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Four short months later, she found herself in a main event, facing former world champion Jéssica Andrade. She faced some adversity in the first round, but Blanchfield went about her daily life, taking Andrade to the ground and submitting her with 97 seconds left in the second round. Forget top 10 status; Blanchfield showed she was a title contender. She cemented that claim with a tough decision win over Taila Santos, setting her up for a No. 1 contendership fight while Grasso and Shevchenko settled their rivalry.

As a headliner in Atlantic City, Blanchfield failed against Fiorot. She couldn't solve the mix of power and technique that Fiorot showcased in the Octagon over the course of 25 minutes, but it didn't completely faze her.

Rose Namajunas