Erin Blanchfield recognizes size difference, still expects finish at UFC on ABC 2

Erin Blanchfield is brimming with confidence heading into her UFC debut.

Blanchfield (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will replace Bea Malecki to face Norma Dumont on short notice Saturday at UFC on ABC 2 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

One of the youngest and brightest prospects in MMA, Blanchfield is entering Saturday on a three-fight winning streak, including a highlight-reel head kick knockout of current UFC flyweight Victoria Leonardo. Winner of the Eddie Bravo Invitational 12 grappling tournament in July 2017, Blanchfield expects to have an advantage over Dumont wherever the fight goes and doesn’t see it going the distance.

“She has kind of a kickboxing background, so she’s a heavy puncher,” Blanchfield told MMA Junkie. “She likes to use her punches a lot, and she’s aggressive, but I think overall in striking, jiu-jitsu and wrestling, I think I’m just superior all around. So if I fight the way I need to, I’m gonna be able to get that finish and get the win.”

She continued, “I think it’s gonna be a tough fight. She’s a big girl, but I think I’m just gonna be better than her all around. I think I’m gonna outclass her in there and get the win however I need to.”

Blanchfield will be competing up a weight class when she faces Dumont in a bantamweight bout. Brazil’s Dumont has even competed at featherweight before, when she was stopped by former title challenger Megan Anderson in February 2020. She dropped back down to bantamweight in her past outing last November and lost to Ashlee Evans-Smith, but she missed weight by three-and-a-half pounds.

So Dumont (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is expected to have a size advantage over Blachnfield, but the 21-year-old prospect says it won’t be the first time she’s giving up size.

“I know she’s gonna be a little bit bigger than me, but I just have to fight smart,” Blanchfield said. “I always try to fight strategic in all my fights. I try not to be just like a bully, so I’m not too worried about it. Just need to fight accordingly. In my first Invicta fight, I think the girl I fought was like (5-foot-11), so I’m used to fighting bigger people so it’s no problem for me.”