Battle night in the UFC has arrived. Tonight’s UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas is headlined by a flyweight fight between Andrade vs Blanchfield.
Andrade is replacing Taila Santos as Blanchfield’s opponent, making this her second appearance in the Octagon in less than a month. Andrade’s last bout was in January at UFC 283, which she won.
In her most recent MMA bout, Blanchfield submitted Molly McCann at UFC 281.
Everything you need to know about the upcoming Andrade vs Blanchfield fight is right here.
Date and time of the UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs Blanchfield
- Day of the week: Saturday, 18 February
- Time of the main event: 7 PM (EST)
- Time (approximate) of the main event ring walks: 10:00 PM EST
The main card is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, and the cage walks for the main event are scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. It’s possible that the undercard fights will extend these times.
How to watch UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs Blanchfield Live
Live Broadcast: Andrade vs Blanchfield Live (Try for free)
Where is the UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs Blanchfield to take place?
Location The fight will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Andrade vs Blanchfield Preview
While Jessica Andrade has already reached the pinnacle, Erin Blanchfield has a legitimate shot at winning it all. The main event of UFC Fight Night takes place this Saturday in Las Vegas, and the victor will almost certainly be in line for a chance at the UFC championship.
In a nutshell, Andrade (24-9) is a player. Less than a month after his victory at UFC 283, the Brazilian is filling in for Taila Santos with only seven days’ warning. Andrade has been on the offensive ever since she was defeated for the UFC women’s strawweight title by Zhang Weili and for the UFC women’s flyweight title by Valentina Shevchenko.
Andrade flits idly between the two weight classes, switching it up as she sees fit to terrify her rivals. Andrade is coming into UFC Fight Night riding a three-fight winning streak that includes a first-round technical knockout of Cynthia Calvillo, a submission victory over Amanda Lemos in under three minutes, and a decision victory over Lauren Murphy despite being outstruck 237 to 100. When Andrade beats Blanchfield, who is much lighter than him, he plans to face Zhang for the strawweight title.
Blanchfield (10-1), looking to advance to face Shevchenko, sees this bout as a stepping stone. At UFC 281, Blanchfield moved from an unheralded contender to a legitimate force. Despite being booed by the American crowd in support of the beloved Scouser Molly McCann, Blanchfield breezed through her match at Madison Square Garden. She ploughed right through McCann. McCann’s arm was bent and torqued at painful angles as a result of a kimura hold applied after an easy takedown. Blanchfield’s dominating display announced her to a broader audience and solidified her status as a potential world champion. Andrade provides an unanticipated opening to achieve remarkable results.
UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs Blanchfield Prediction
Erin Blanchfield vs. Jessica Andrade: Blanchfield is a potential champion, but I worry that facing Andrade so quickly will be too much for him. The competitive gap between McMann and Andrade is enormous, and Andrade is a major threat right now. Andrade has excellent takedown defence (73%), a low center of gravity (for submissions), and overall physical strength. Someone physically formidable could probably knock Andrade to the floor. It was a one-sided battle won by Shevchenko, who scored seven takedowns. Four takedowns every 15 minutes are the norm for Blanchfield.
Blanchfield may lack Shevchenko’s strength, but she makes up for it with her impressive EBI grappling experience and impressive takedown chaining. If she wishes to keep Andrade on the ground, this is a must. Blanchfield is at his best in the clinch, where he can land elbows and knees with relative ease, but he is in serious peril against the sturdy and powerful Andrade. Especially given Blanchfield’s vulnerability to counterattacks. How well Andrade’s endurance holds up under pressure is a mystery, but if it does, she has more ways to win the battle.
UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs Blanchfield fight card
Main Card
- Jessica Andrade and Erin Blanchfield are two female floaters.
- Light heavyweight match: Jordan Wright vs. Zac Pauga
- Heavyweight match: Josh Parisian vs. Jamal Pogues
- light heavyweight bout between William Knight and Tomasz Prachnio
- Lightweights Jim Miller and Alexander Hernandez
Prelims
- Joe Solecki vs. Benoit Saint-Denis (lightweight)
- Female bantamweights Lina Lansberg and Mayra Bueno Silva
- Weight Class: Feather Jamall Emmers vs. Khusein Askhabov
- Light heavyweight match: Ovince Saint Preux vs. Philipe Lins
- Lightweight: Nazim Sadykhov vs. Evan Elder
- Match: AJ Fletcher vs. Themba Gorimbo, Welterweight
- Flyweight bout between Clayton Carpenter and Juancamilo Ronderos
