Erin Blanchfield: UFC champ Zhang Weili's success wouldn't translate to flyweight
Erin Blanchfield: UFC champ Zhang Weili's success wouldn't translate to flyweight
Erin Blanchfield doesn't see UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili replicating her success at flyweight.
Weili (26-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is interested in a potential superfight with flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (24-4-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC), who makes her next title defense against Manon Fiorot in the UFC 315 co-main event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) May 10 in Montreal. However, top flyweight contender Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) doesn't think Weili has the size to reign supreme in the weight class above.
"She's really tough, so I could see her winning some kind of like how Rose (Namajunas) was able to win some moving up, but I think she's really tiny," Blanchfield said in an interview with Home of Fight. "I've seen her in person. She's very short, especially for 125. I don't think she would be a champ at 125."
Blanchfield will look to emerge into title contention when she takes on Maycee Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 68 headliner May 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. She likes how she matches up with Weili should she move up to flyweight.
"I would see myself finishing her," Blanchfield said of Weili. "I feel like it'd be similar to (Jessica) Andrade. I feel like they'd have that same build, and they're both aggressive. So I could see myself finishing her."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
36 minutes ago
- USA Today
Video: UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins live stream from New Jersey
Video: UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins live stream from New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. – UFC 316 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). The weigh-ins take place at Prudential Center, the same venue that hosts Saturday's event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). In addition to the video stream above, you can check out the official UFC 316 weigh-in results from earlier in the day below.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Video: UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins live stream from New Jersey
NEWARK, N.J. – UFC 316 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). The weigh-ins take place at Prudential Center, the same venue that hosts Saturday's event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Advertisement In addition to the video stream above, you can check out the official UFC 316 weigh-in results from earlier in the day below. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins live stream from New Jersey
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UFC return confirmed: Amanda Nunes isn't coming back just for a good time, but a long time
NEWARK, N.J. – Amanda Nunes is returning to the UFC for a good time but also perhaps a long time. During a fan Q&A on Wednesday at Prudential Center ahead of Saturday's UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-ins, Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) confirmed her comeback to the cage and added that it won't be just a one-off. Advertisement "I'm ready to stay here," Nunes said. "I'm going to take the belt back. I'm going to defend as long as possible. As long as my body can handle, I'm going to be here." In recent months, Nunes has teased a comeback. She was spotted in the crowd at a press conference in March and nodded her head when it was suggested she might return. She's also posted several times cryptically on social media. Nunes' official comeback confirmation comes on the eve of a crucial fight for the women's bantamweight division as her two-time rival Julianna Peña looks to defend the title vs. Kayla Harrison, a fighter Nunes has trained with in the past. Nunes will likely face the winner, and she doesn't particularly seem to care who that is. "I love this. I'm so excited. To see my name all over, that's what I'm here for," Nunes said. "To come back, I'm ready for tomorrow. I'm ready to fight. ... I have Kayla by decision. Honestly, I'm a champion. Either one, I'm going to be ready for. Let's go." While Nunes passed on picking which fight she'd like more, she stayed respectful when she spoke of Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC). When asked about Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) and her trash talk, Nunes wasn't as kind to "The Venezuelan Vixen." Advertisement "I just think Julianna has to shut up and fight and stop crying all the time about things," Nunes said. "Just face the girl, and that's it. Like, the girl is there. Tomorrow, Kayla is going to show up. I want to see if she shows up, as well. Kayla is going to bring it for her, though. She thinks it's going to be easy? She's delusional if she thinks it's going to be easy. Nunes, 37, retired from mixed martial arts competition in June 2023 following a successful title defense vs. Irena Aldana. The win came on the heels of a 1-1 series vs. Peña, who shockingly pulled off an upset before Nunes got her revenge. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Amanda Nunes: Bring on Kayla Harrison or Julianna Peña for UFC return
