TMZSports.com
Erin Blanchfield isn’t looking to prove herself worthy of a title fight … she straight up believes she’s a superior fighter to Valentina Shevchenko, telling TMZ Sports she plans to dethrone the current champ.
“[Valentina] can be taken down, she can be controlled on the ground and I think my jiu-jitsu is even better. I know I could fight with her anywhere. I’m confident in my striking and my wrestling and my jitsu,” 23-year-old Blanchfield, fresh off an impressive 2nd round submission win over Jessica Andrade, told us this week.
The #3 ranked UFC flyweight then continued … “I think just putting my whole game together, I think I’m more well-rounded in that sense where I can put it all together better and that I’ll find that win whenever I can.”
We asked Erin if she believes she’s done enough to secure a fight for the belt.
“Oh, definitely. I think I’ve proved myself after this last weekend and I definitely want that title shot next.”
Blanchfield vs. Shevchenko is the fight so many fans want to see, but Valentina has business to take care of beforehand. The 34-year-old champion is fighting 29-year-old Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 on March 4 … where she’s a heavy favorite (-600).
FYI, Shevchenko only has 3 losses in her entire career … and 2 were to Amanda Nunes (some fans feel VS won 1 of the fights). Valentina hasn’t lost since 2017 (and hasn’t lost to anyone not named Nunes since 2010!). Blanchfield only has one loss on her ledger (in 2019) … and has an 11-1 record in MMA (5-0 in UFC).
Erin tells us she’s rooting for Shevchenko because a loss would almost certainly guarantee a rematch of the 285 scrap between the women, and EB isn’t trying to wait. Not to mention, she’d like to be the woman to dethrone the future Hall of Famer.
“I definitely want Valentina to win. I wanna be the one to take that belt from her. She’s been a super dominant champ, she’s very skilled and having that prestige of taking a belt from someone like Valentina is definitely what I want.”
As for how she thinks a fight with the current champ would go … Blanchfield sees herself winning by any means necessary.
“I see my hand getting raised whichever way I need to. I know I can win that fight wherever it goes.”