Manon Fiorot demonstrated her dominance in a gritty showdown against Erin Blanchfield at UFC on ESPN 54, held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The highly anticipated women’s flyweight bout unfolded over the full distance, with Fiorot (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) emerging victorious on all scorecards in a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).
Right from the outset, Fiorot showcased her striking prowess with precision and power. However, an early attempt to execute a takedown on Blanchfield (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) nearly backfired when Fiorot found herself ensnared in a guillotine choke. Despite the tense moment, Fiorot managed to break free and resumed the stand-up battle.
Blanchfield persisted in her efforts to bring the fight to the ground in the second round, but Fiorot skillfully reversed the positions, maintaining her dominance. Throughout the match, Fiorot effectively thwarted Blanchfield’s takedown attempts while landing significant strikes and maintaining distance with well-timed counterattacks.
SHE GETS THE UNANIMOUS DECISION 🙌
After 5 hard fought rounds, @ManonFiorot_MMA takes the dub! #UFCAtlanticCity pic.twitter.com/gvT6y9IeUJ
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2024
As the rounds progressed, Blanchfield, realizing the urgency of the situation, intensified her assault. Despite landing some impactful strikes, she couldn’t find the elusive finish needed to turn the tide in her favor.
In the post-fight interview, Fiorot wasted no time in declaring her ambition for a shot at the flyweight title, currently held by Alexa Grasso. With the champion tied up in filming commitments for “The Ultimate Fighter” alongside former titleholder Valentina Shevchenko, Fiorot is eager to stake her claim for the belt.
Maintaining an unblemished record in the UFC, Fiorot’s victory cements her position as a formidable contender in the women’s flyweight division. Ranked fifth in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Fiorot’s impressive win streak includes triumphs over esteemed opponents such as former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.
For Blanchfield, the defeat marks the end of her unbeaten streak since joining the UFC in 2021. Despite accumulating six consecutive victories leading up to this bout, Blanchfield now faces the task of regrouping and preparing for her next challenge in the octagon.
The event also witnessed other notable outcomes, including Joaquin Buckley’s victory over Vicente Luque via TKO, Chris Weidman’s unanimous decision win against Bruno Silva, and Nursulton Ruziboev’s knockout victory over Sedriques Dumas in the first round.
