Erin Blanchfield isn’t any stranger to accepting short-notice opponents, however she believes the chance is even increased along with her subsequent struggle booked in opposition to Maycee Barber within the UFC Vegas 107 primary occasion.
Her causes are primarily centered round a beforehand scheduled matchup between them being cancelled after Barber dropped out because of harm. These issues have solely been amplified by Barber’s lengthy layoff because of a thriller medical situation that’s saved her out of motion for the previous 14 months.
Whereas there’s been no indication that Barber has suffered any type of setback, Blanchfield admits she’s staying prepared for any chance with struggle day creeping up this Saturday.
“Yeah, a bit little bit of fear,” Blanchfield informed MMA Combating. “As a result of Maycee is somebody that has pulled out of fights fairly continuously. She has a historical past of that. There’s all the time a fear however that might occur with anybody on the identical time.
“Numerous 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 typically 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 primary occasion.
Blanchfield hopes nothing modifications and she or he faces Barber at UFC Vegas 107, however she additionally understands the tough actuality that she might find yourself with a special opponent as a result of that’s occurred to her earlier than. It’s by no means excellent, 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 probably the most. There’s all the time little belongings you attempt to tweak in your opponents however I actually attempt to focus alone device set and what I need to develop in. Regardless if the opponent modifications, 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 in opposition to Manon Fiorot at UFC 315.
“I wasn’t too stunned,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I knew after my final struggle I might have been combating Alexa [Grasso] or [Natalia] Silva or Maycee, all of these names have been nonetheless open. Like nobody had fights booked but. So after I bought the provide to struggle Maycee in a primary 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 primary occasion, too.”
Assuming nothing modifications and Barber stays within the struggle as scheduled, Blanchfield is greater than ready as a result of she’s now ready for this identical matchup a number of occasions.
Barber returns to the cage for the primary time in over a yr so there’s a chance she may need ring rust to knock off. Blanchfield isn’t relying on that taking part in an element within the struggle, though she is aware of it’s an actual chance.
“Taking a yr off is rarely excellent,” 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 maintain combating as a lot as you may.
“I believe consistency of combating, it’s all the time helped me staying constant and combating on a regular basis simply helps you develop.”
Blanchfield’s struggle in opposition to 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 formidable exhibiting in opposition to Barber places her in an ideal place to name for a title shot.
“I don’t assume it’s clear reduce,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I believe how the struggle with me and Maycee goes, like if I’m going in there and I end her and I’ve a very 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.”
