Erin Blanchfield is already looking ahead to her next fight.
The flyweight challenger suffered the first setback of his UFC career on Saturday, losing a lopsided decision to Manon Fiorotto in the main event of UFC Atlantic City. It was a humbling moment for Blanchfield, a 24-year-old who weighed 125 pounds and had long been touted as a future champion.
Later in the evening, Blanchfield released a brief statement on Instagram about the loss.
“Tough night, but I will come back better,” Blanchfield wrote.
Before Saturday's loss, Blanchfield had lived up to the hype with six wins in the UFC. That included a decision victory over his most recent title challenger, Tyra Santos, and a dominant submission win over former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade. Against Fiorotto, Blanchfield was unable to mount a sustained attack throughout the 25-minute match, resulting in a decision loss to Fiorotto by a score of 50-45.
The win kept Fiorotto's UFC record intact at 7-0. The French standout is set to challenge for the flyweight title once Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko conclude their coaching duties and settle their championship trilogy later this year. ultimate fighter 32.
Although it's a disappointing result for Blanchfield, “In Cold Blood” doesn't turn 25 until May, and it looks like he still has a bright future ahead of him.
