UFC Vegas 69 Preview (Andrade vs. Blanchfield)
The UFC is heading back to the Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday February 18th for UFC Vegas 69. The main event will be a fight in the women’s flyweight division with major title implications. Former strawweight champion and #3 ranked flyweight Jessica Andrade will take on rising contender #10 Erin Blanchfield.
Andrade will be stepping into the fight on short notice for Taila Santos. She has won three straight fights since unsuccessfully challenging for the flyweight title at UFC 261. She most recently defeated former title challenger Lauren Murphy by unanimous decision at UFC 283 in January. The Brazilian is 4-3 since becoming a champion in 2019, but a fourth straight win could be the streak she needs to challenge for the third title of her career. The big question is which division will she earn the title shot in, should she win on Saturday?
While she is moving back up to Flyweight for this fight, Andrade plans to win back the strawweight title she once held. “I’ve said this to everyone, all year long, that want to remain a strawweight,” Andrade said. “I set my goals and that’s where I want to stay. I think that coming off four straight victories, I’m actually closer to facing (Zhang) Weili.”
Andrade continued, “And on that subject, I went to China to face Weili. I went in there, I went to her. We can fight in Las Vegas, that be great, or anywhere in the United States, but this is second nature to her. She’s spent her time at the PI, she’s done camps here, so I want to take her out to Brazil because I went to China to face her. I want to move her out of her comfort zone. I went to her, so why not do it for me? But I want to stay at strawweight, I’ve said it all along. Again, four straight wins and coming off against a prospect, I think I will be considered over here for a really clear shot at Weili.”
Aside from Murphy, Andrade has key victories in her career over Amanda Lemos, Cynthia Calvillo, Katlyn Chookagian, Rose Namajunas, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Tecia Torres and Claudia Gadelha. The 31-year-old has proven to have tremendous power at both strawweight and flyweight. If she can finish Blanchfield in spectacular fashion she could make the case for a title shot in both weight classes. In addition to being ranked third at flyweight, she is also ranked sixth in the strawweight division.
Blanchfield is 4-0 in the UFC and her lone loss came back in 2019. She most recently defeated Molly McCann by first round submission at UFC 281 in November. The 23-year-old is now looking at the biggest fight of her life and a giant step-up in challenge in Andrade.
Despite having a short notice opponent of such high caliber, Blanchfield is not worried. “Everybody’s tough, so I don’t really care. I was just happy to get a fight,” Blanchfield said. “… I know a lot of people have been saying that, I guess because Andrade has a lot of experience in the UFC. She has a lot more fights than me or Taila. I think that’s the only reason why. She’s super tough. She’s different than Taila. But I don’t think it’s necessarily a bigger fight skill-wise. I think it might be bigger for people that know Andrade.”
Blanchfield understands the differences that Andrade will bring to the cage. “I think they’re different body types, a little bit different styles,” Blanchfield said. “It’s just adjusting to that. Andrade has to adjust to me, too. Andrade just fought and she didn’t know she was fighting me until a week ago. We both have to make a little bit of adjustments so I think we’re on an even playing field with that.”
The Rest of the Main Card:
Light Heavyweight - Jordan Wright vs. Zac Pauga
Heavyweight - Josh Parisian vs. Jamal Pogues
Light Heavyweight - William Knight vs. Marcin Prachnio
Lightweight - Jim Miller vs. Alexander Hernandez
ESPN + Prelims:
Lightweight - Nazim Sadykhov vs. Evan Elder
Women's Bantamweight - Lina Länsberg vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
Featherweight - Jamall Emmers vs. Khusein Askhabov
Light Heavyweight - Ovince Saint Preux vs. Philipe Lins
Welterweight - A.J. Fletcher vs. Themba Gorimbo
Flyweight - Clayton Carpenter vs. Juancamilo Ronderos
